Residents split on Port Theatre

June Casagrande

While many agree that the Lido Theater and Balboa Theater should be

designated as landmarks, residents who have weighed in on the

theaters’ future are split on whether the Port Theatre should also

enjoy the freedom that comes with that status.

“All of the parking that was available when the [Port Theatre] was

built has been swallowed up by establishments locating in the area,”

Corona del Mar resident Oliver Winn wrote to council members. “Any

significant crowds drawn to the Port location flood the city

residential streets and the spaces used by other businesses.”

Council members held a public hearing on Tuesday on whether to

grant the three theaters and the Balboa Pavilion more leeway to

broaden their operations without having to apply for new use permits.

The theaters could add some live entertainment, arcade

entertainment and food and beverage service if they could prove that

these activities would not increase parking demand allowed by their

current permits. But in the case of the Port, even the parking

allowed now would be too much if it were actually used, opponents

say.

“The Port Theatre has little architectural merit,” Councilman Dick

Nichols wrote in a statement to his colleagues. “Without purchase of

the adjacent property or extensive building renovation, shown by

others to be specifically excluded on historical buildings, the

building is nearly unusable for the joint alternate uses: restaurant,

arcade, dance hall, etc. It is clear that the Landmark Theater guise

is being used to foster a major entertainment center in CdM to the

detriment of surrounding commercial and residential.”

Conflict-of-interest rules forbid Nichols from voting on the

matter because his home is too close to the Port Theatre site, but,

taking a position at the podium as a resident, he spoke against

granting the Port landmark status.

Most puzzling for some is the lack of input from Port Theatre

operators. Though Councilman Tod Ridgeway reported that he has heard

rumors about reopening the theater, the owners have not yet announced

what they plan to do there.

Though the landmark status might give the businesses more

opportunity to stay afloat financially, it would not confer

historical status on the buildings or prevent them from being

demolished.

That leeway had some council members concerned that the Port

operators would have more options for changing their business without

the city first having any information about how the Port might take

advantage of the relaxed rules.

“It’s a little odd that we’re thinking about doing this without

any input at all from the applicant,” City Councilman John Heffernan

said.

Council members agreed to postpone the decision until their March

11 meeting after they solicit input from Port operators and consider

some changes to the ordinance.

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport.

She may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

june.casagrande@latimes.com.