Strand gains an approval

Jose Paul Corona

The Strand, a project that proposes to revamp the first couple

blocks of Downtown Huntington Beach, is one step closer to becoming a

reality.

The Planning Commission Tuesday night approved the project’s

environmental report shortly before midnight.

Commissioner Randy Kokal was the only person who voted against

certifying the report, saying that it required further study.

While a few residents voiced their concerns about the project,

nearly a dozen residents -- including Joyce Riddell, president of the

Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce and Doug Traub, president of the

Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau -- voiced their

support for the proposed Downtown project, saying that it would

benefit the city by bringing more tourists dollars.

“It will add additional retail visitor service type of business to

add to the critical mass Downtown,” Riddell said. “It will also add

additional property, sales and transient occupancy tax.”

If approved, the project will revitalize a prominent portion of

the Downtown area bounded by Main Street, Pacific Coast Highway and

Walnut and 5th avenues. It would be made up of six buildings on two

city blocks and would include a 152-room hotel encompassing

226,500-square-feet.

A two-level underground parking structure with a 405 parking

spaces, valet service and an attendant ticket booth would also be

built.

Plans to redevelop the two-block stretch have been met with

opposition from some residents and Downtown business owners who don’t

want Huntington Beach to lose its “small town atmosphere.”

Realtor Bob Bolen was one of several Downtown shop owners to

oppose the project saying it won’t add adequate parking in the

already crowded Downtown area.

The commission will discuss the project’s tentative tract map and

make a decision on it at its next meeting on Oct. 1. The project does

not have to go before the City Council.