EDITORIAL

For nearly 20 years, the business owners in Balboa Village on the

peninsula knew the area was deteriorating and that it could use a

revitalization.

Finally, in early 2000, the Newport Beach City Council unanimously

approved the roughly $8-million project that will add new lighting and

sewers and rebuilt restrooms at the base of the Balboa Pier, along with

other functional and aesthetic improvements.

Roadwork is also underway and isn’t expected to be completed until

May, so merchants along the peninsula have been losing business.

But instead of simply allowing that to continue happening while the

project is underway, the city has stepped in to do what it can to help.

In December, the city allowed motorists to park in metered spots for

free, put up banners announcing that the businesses are indeed still open

and made a few other positive changes. The city now allows two hours of

free parking between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily. The city also lifted its

prohibition of left turns from Balboa Boulevard onto Main Street.

Yvonne Mithrush, owner of Mithrush Fashions on the boulevard, said

“They acted really fast, and it helped a lot.”

That type of city response should make all of its merchants and

residents proud. It was a great decision that will do those business

owners well during this slowing economy and this winter season.

The city even issued fliers asking the residents to continue and even

increase their “patronage of Balboa merchants whenever possible” to “help

them through this period of difficulty.”

In launching the project, city officials did what has been needed for

far too long and, in aiding the owners during this difficult time of

construction, have gone the extra mile.

We can only hope the village’s merchants appreciate all the city has

done for them in these last few years and that they enjoy nothing but

prosperous times ahead.