Community commentary

I am writing to you in response to the recent “Readers Respond” column

(“Residents to city: please preserve open space,” July 27). This is

hardly a valid representation of both sides of the question. It wouldn’t

be hard for me to supply more than seven people who think the arts and

education center is a wonderful idea whose time has come.

It seems to me that the Daily Pilot and the readers who were quoted on

this subject are not seeing the entire picture on the issue of building

an arts and education center adjoining the Newport Beach Central Library.

If Newport Beach residents will consider the plans being developed for a

center, they will see that we also are working to preserve the open space

in the city, while providing a necessary enhancement to the cultural and

educational facilities available to members of this community.

The first misconception implied in the above-mentioned column is that

the arts and education center would use up all open space on the site

adjoining the library by creating a huge facility that would eradicate

native plant life and replace it with a concrete-and-steel eyesore.

The fact is that the arts and education center would only be using 3

1/2 acres of the 12-acre site. The plans have been developed in a

painstaking way to maximize the usability of the facility while

minimizing its environmental impact.

The facility’s rooftop would not rise above the level of MacArthur

Boulevard, so it would not block views of the ocean from nearby areas.

The roof would be landscaped to complement the surrounding 8 1/2 acres

of open space, and the parking facility would be underground.

The entire facility has been designed as a complement to the Newport

Beach Central Library, sharing parking areas and administration

facilities.

Other sites were considered, but this one was chosen because it

adjoins the library. By combining the two facilities and allowing them to

share parking and administration, the cultural effect is maximized while

the environmental effect is minimized. The location allows for easy

access by all residents, as originally considered when the library was

developed. The arts and education center was designed as a benefit, not a

detriment, to this community.

The second misconception implied is the larger issue that local

residents need to consider. One respondent in the original column touched

briefly on the issue of denying a project that will enhance the cultural

life of this community, while large-scale commercial projects continue to

be developed, using up large quantities of the open space that we are

trying to protect.

Culture is the heart of a city. Don’t you think that you should look

into your heart and say some nice things for those of us who believe as

we do? The City Council has seen fit to appoint an ad-hoc committee to

look into this very question, of which I’m proud to be a member.

DON GREGORY is the co-chairman of the ad-hoc committee for the Newport

Beach Arts and Education Center.