Canon may split up its land
Paul Clinton
Canon Inc. won approval from the Planning Commission on Tuesday to
subdivide the land under its Red Hill Avenue manufacturing plant to
help sell it off as the company pulls out of town.
The Toyko-based manufacturer of copying machines, printers and
cameras announced it would close its Costa Mesa operation in March.
Since then, about 300 of its employees have been transferred to other
divisions or laid off, a company spokeswoman said.
“The market space that we’re in changes rapidly,” said Debra
Epstein of Canon USA. “It was a move to maintain our competitiveness.
It was a move of streamlining and centralizing manufacturing.”
Company officials would not release any details about the pending
sale of the land, but breaking up the 13.73-acre parcel into six
smaller pieces should help sell it.
“It gives them the flexibility to sell off each of the different
buildings to different owners,” Associate Planner Claire Flynn said.
“It’s easier to find a tenant for one building [than for six].”
As a condition of the unanimous approval, the planning board
inserted a condition that would require new tenants to add parking
should they apply to remodel their structures.
The complex’s six buildings total 284,625 square feet of space and
483 parking stalls. It’s near John Wayne Airport, at Red Hill Avenue
and Pullman Street.
Ed Fawcett, executive director of the Costa Mesa Chamber Of
Commerce, bemoaned the loss of a company division that has operated
in Costa Mesa for almost three decades. Canon manufactured inkjet
printers and cartridges at the plant.
“The loss to Costa Mesa is significant,” Fawcett said. “They were
significant employers ....To lose them was very disappointing.”
After announcing the move in March, the company began phasing the
division out. The complex is now vacant.
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