Marinapark leases won’t be more than a year

June Casagrande

BALBOA PENINSULA -- Residents of the 56 mobile homes at Marinapark,

whose lease expires next month, could get a one-year extension from the

city, but they won’t get the longer deal they seek.

“We’re asking the city for a three-year lease renewal,” resident

Stewart Berkshire told the City Council on Tuesday, adding that he

believes the lease would not threaten a luxury resort planned for the

site.

Marinapark on Balboa Peninsula is home to 15 permanent residents and

41 vacation homes. The 15-year lease on the city-owned property expires

in March.

As part of their original agreement, the residents agreed to leave

when their lease expired to make way for other land uses the city was

considering. As compensation, their rents were cut in half. Average

monthly rent for waterfront mobile home spaces there is $1,250, which is

half the city’s estimated value of $2,500. Over 15 years, this adds up to

$225,000 for some.

“The shorter-term lease, one year, renewable by us, lets us anticipate

some type of future change in use at that site,” Mayor Tod Ridgeway said.

The City Council decided in the 1980s that eventually the land should

be developed to serve visitors to Newport Beach. Recently, with that goal

in mind, the City Council selected Sutherland Talla Hospitality to

develop the site.

Environmental studies will soon begin on Sutherland Talla’s proposed

147-room luxury Regent Newport Beach Resort. If the controversial project

wins approval of the Planning Commission and City Council, it will be put

to a Greenlight vote.

“As the landlord for that property, we have to be realistic with the

possibility of when Sutherland Talla may be ready to go to a ballot and

we also have to be respectful of our tenants,” Assistant City Manager

Dave Kiff said. “So we’re trying to balance those concerns.”

* June Casagrande covers Newport Beach. She may be reached at (949)

574-4232 or by e-mail at o7 june.casagrande@latimes.comf7 .