Readers Respond

AT ISSUE: A proposal to build a $30-million luxury hotel on the Balboa

Peninsula could force the American Legion Post 291 to relocate, which has

prompted many residents to oppose the project.

As a Balboa resident on property owned by family since 1927, I feel

qualified to bring to your attention a fact that has not, to my

knowledge, been mentioned in any report, pro or con, on the Sutherland

Talla Hospitality Group’s project here in Newport Beach (Marinapark).

The presentation at the Aug. 22 Newport Beach City Council meeting by

Stephen P. Sutherland gave a clear idea of the proposed luxury resort and

I have to say, it does sound appealing.

I would wish that Sutherland or others in the group could or would

arrange to spend a few days here, on location, during any month,

especially during the summer. As I have mentioned above, no one has

brought out the fact that Balboa Boulevard is indeed a “dead-end” street.

All cars going on the peninsula must exit the same way. Traffic is bad

enough all year long, however, summer can be beyond belief.

We do have a wonderful bay and beautiful beaches and we gladly share

them. But to consciously add to the traffic on a dead-end street seems

not only disadvantageous, it seems like a poor choice of location for

your project.

I wish you success on a more suitable site for your luxury hotel.

RUTH GARSTONE

Balboa Peninsula

Editor’s note: The above item is an open letter to Sutherland Talla

Hospitality Group.

This is a day that will live in infamy. Our elected representatives

sold us down the river. Despite a packed house at City Hall, all of whom

came to speak against the proposed peninsula hotel between 15th and 19th

streets, our City Council voted unanimously (one abstention) to go

forward with Sutherland Talla’s resort hotel.

Folks representing the American Legion, Marinapark Homeowners, Central

Newport Homeowners, Joint Peninsula Homeowners, as well as local

neighbors of the project, were politely listened to for several hours,

then just as politely ignored.

Despite its 77-year history in Newport Beach and historical promises

to be allowed to remain at its present location in perpetuity, the

American Legion is about to be begged, cajoled and bribed into giving up

its site so another new hotel can be added to the gridlock we now

endure.

This 156-room hotel with spa and dock access for visiting yachtsmen,

we are told, will generate no more traffic than is presently blocking

access of emergency vehicles as well as ordinary citizens. Oh, yes, and

the upscale, very expensive spa and yachting facility will provide more

beach access for the common folk, too. Yeah, right.

It’s hard not to be sarcastic, angry, disillusioned and disappointed

with a council that is supposed to be representing the residents of this

city. Terrance Phillips’ column in the Pilot was right (“We can’t let our

precious harbor commodity slip away,” Aug. 21). Soon we will have to be

tourists or millionaires to enjoy our beaches. This is just one more

example of why we have no alternative to Greenlight. Greenlight is our

last chance to control what Newport Beach is to become.

MARTIN AND MILDRED LITKE

Newport Beach