Plans to lease college property put on hold

Amy R. Spurgeon

COSTA MESA -- The Coast Community College District Board of Trustees

shelved its plans Wednesday to present a counter offer to a North

Carolina-based hardware chain’s proposal to lease the district’s 14-acre

site near Adams Avenue and Harbor Boulevard, district officials said.

Board president Jerry Patterson said the absence of trustee Walter Howald

prompted the board to take no action. Instead, the board will hold a

special meeting within the next two weeks to address the issue.

Lowe’s Home Improvement Center is the nation’s second-largest hardware

chain. It is in the midst of an aggressive expansion plan, in which it

hopes to open 90 to 95 new stores this year, according to its broker,

Voit Commercial Brokerage.

Voit officials confirmed they notified the district in February of its

client’s desire to lease the property. District officials decided last

year to lease the Adams Avenue site, appraised at $8.1 million, to

increase district revenue.

The district oversees three college campuses and one public broadcasting

television station.

District officials said moving its headquarters of more than 30 years to

make room for Lowe’s is a possibility. However, costs associated with

such a move have not been discussed, Patterson said.

In a two-page letter to the district last February, Voit Associate Vice

President Robert Pettis stated Lowe’s was seeking retail outlet sites in

Orange County.

He wrote, “as a site enhancement, discussions have been held with the

adjacent property owner to the west, Connell Chevrolet, seeking to

acquire land access to Harbor Boulevard. This will improve traffic

circulation and create Harbor Boulevard identification. Lowe’s is

enthusiastic about this opportunity and is eager to pursue negotiations

expeditiously.”

But Connell Chevrolet General Manager Paul Doddridge said he hasn’t

agreed to any deal with the district or Lowe’s.

“I have no intentions of making access to that property,” Doddridge said.

“As of right now, I have turned everything down. But things change day to

day.”

The letter stated Voit was also in discussion with the city of Costa

Mesa’s Planning and Redevelopment Department and that the project may

require a General Plan amendment, rezoning and an environmental impact

report.

Tina Bruning, president of the district’s teachers union, has been

closely watching the district’s leasing plans.

She said she supports leasing the property, but with a few conditions.

Bruning said the board should solicit proposals from other interested

entities to encourage competition and get the best possible financial

return for the district.

Also, Bruning said the district should find a tenant that would be

compatible with nearby residential areas, adding that she is requesting

that revenue from any land-lease agreement be used to protect employee

benefits.