Mailbag - Jan. 3, 2002

Home Ranch should now be built

The failure of the referendum effort toward Home Ranch should

absolutely be the end to opposition of the project (“Home Ranch

referendum drive fails,” Dec. 22). Enough is enough. With the

referendum’s failure, the majority of citizens recognize the tremendous

positive impact and influence the Segerstrom family has had on Costa Mesa

and the benefits to the city that influence has provided. We say let the

Segerstroms move forward on another beneficial addition to Costa Mesa.

BILL AND MARILYN HOBBS

Costa Mesa

Triangle Square is the key problem

Isn’t it ironic that the businesses closed to make room for Triangle

Square had to be forced from their locations and now Triangle Square

can’t seem to keep tenants (“Triangle Square loses another tenant,” Dec.

20)? I seem to recall the protests of several business owners whose

businesses had thrived at the corner of Harbor and Newport boulevards.

None of them left willingly. And now Triangle Square can’t keep tenants.

Could it be that the location or even the type of stores at Triangle

Square is not the reason locals do not create enough foot traffic for the

businesses to make a profit? The article mentioned “years of bad

management” as the reason for so many empty stores. Someone somewhere is

in denial.

The reason most locals do not frequent Triangle Square is the design

of the place. The design of Triangle Square is ill-suited for a community

used to the accessibility of the variety of stores we have on streets

such as 17th Street, Harbor and Newport.

The parking is cramped and a hassle for a trip to Whole Foods Market.

Why go down three floors to park in the dark when you can park in front

of the door at Mother’s Market on 17th? Why circle the lot to find a spot

for Barnes & Noble, then trek through the parking area to get to Virgin

Megastore when you can go across the street and park right in front of

Borders, which carries books and music?

In my humble opinion, the temporary issue of Triangle Square finding

“destination tenants” is overlooking the bigger problem. There are few

“destinations” that could get me to frequent Triangle Square.

What on Earth will we (as a community) do with that Nike building

should the entire property become empty and blighted?

MEG TWEEDY

Costa Mesa