Jenny MarderDevelopers plan to begin construction on...

Jenny Marder

Developers plan to begin construction on the controversial Strand

project this spring, now that lawsuits have been settled and appeals

to the coastal commission denied.

“We are very excited and anxious,” said John Given, senior vice

president of developer CIM Group. “The goal of this project is to

provide more activity and more services that more Huntington Beach

residents can use.”

Given said construction will take 15 to 18 months to complete and

hopes to open the Strand in 2005.

The Strand will be a multi-use development complex with

residential and retail components in the heart of Downtown. The

225,000-square-foot structure will feature 100,000 square feet of

retail and office space, a 149-room Marriott Residence Inn and an

underground parking lot with 411 spaces.

While several big-name retail stores were announced as future

tenants in the past, delays may have affected that, Givens said.

The Strand project has weathered many setbacks including three

lawsuits filed by a group called Citizens Against Redevelopment

Excess, consisting primarily of business owners in the surrounding

area.

The two most recent suits were settled by a 5-1 vote at the Feb. 3

City Council meeting.

James Lane, spokesman for the citizen’s group, said that while he

is disappointed by the vote, he feels his group’s concerns were at

least heard.

“We just have to accept the fact that we lost at the Planning

Commission, the City Council and the coastal commission,” Lane said.

“Whatever it costs the city, it’s going to be built.”

Lane said he is still concerned about the future of Downtown and

predicts that the Strand project will exacerbate parking problems

that he says are already plaguing the area.

“Parking now is bad,” said Eldon Bagstad, owner of El Don Liquor

at 5th Street and Pacific Coast Highway. “It’s going to be

devastating.”

Bagstad is even more worried about the impact construction will

have on his 31-year-old liquor store. When Jack’s Surfboards shop was

erected in 1989 alleys and sidewalks were blocked off, making it

difficult for customers and delivery trucks to get to his shop, he

said. Business dropped 70% back then and he fears construction of the

Strand could put him out of business.

“It’s just by a miracle that I survived,” he said.

Developers, however, said the city considered the current tenants

concerns before passing the project.

“This project will generate substantial tax revenue to the city,”

Given said. “Also, we will be leasing the space to tenants who are

not currently providing shopping in Huntington Beach.”

* JENNY MARDER covers City Hall. She can be reached at (714)

965-7173 or by e-mail at jenny.marder@latimes.com.