Artsy look proposed for Town Center

Jennifer Kho

COSTA MESA -- Timing and traffic were themes running through this

week’s City Council study session and the Planning Commission’s public

hearing on the proposed Town Center project.

The project includes land owned by C.J. Segerstrom & Sons, the Orange

County Performing Arts Center and Commonwealth Partners, LLC.

The conceptual plans lay out a pedestrian-friendly cultural arts

district with classy artwork covering up the service bays and rear

portions of businesses on Avenue of the Arts, first-class restaurants and

a “building without walls” glass design that would expose the Naguchi

Californian Sculpture Garden.

The plans also include a new concert hall, expansion of South Coast

Repertory Theater, easier access to parking and office space.

The part of the project discussed Monday was the Commonwealth Partners

section, which is bordered by Bristol Street, Anton Boulevard, Avenue of

the Arts and the San Diego Freeway.

James R. Anderson, a partner at Commonwealth Partners, said the

company’s part of the project will be completed in three phases over at

least five years.

Commonwealth has also decided that 1% of the money it spends on the

project will be put toward art, such as rotating platforms to display

public art or art integrated into the paving or street furniture,

Anderson said.

The company’s presentation rubbed Councilman Joe Erickson the wrong

way.

“They are using art as a selling point for what in reality is an

entitlement for hundreds of thousands of square feet,” he said. “The

developer seems to be selling art as a trade-offfor entitlement, which I

don’t agree with. Art is nice, but I think we have a responsibility to

the citizens who have to live with traffic and other impacts of a very

urbanized project.”

Councilwoman Heather Somers said she is concerned about the size,

density and parking parts of the proposal, but would “certainly promote

incorporating art and having as much of an artistic look as possible.”

Planning commissioners and residents at the public hearing also spoke

about traffic concerns.

Anderson said Commonwealth would like to have a left-turn lane into a

parking garage at the end of a proposed freeway offramp on Avenue of the

Arts, but said the state Department of Transportation might not allow it.

Commissioner Katrina Foley suggested that Commonwealth and city staff

consider bicycle access to the site as well.