Fashion Island is ignoring one target group...

Fashion Island is ignoring one target group

I read about Fashion Island’s new plan (“Re-fashioning the

Island,” Monday). I think they completely left out an age group, the

customer that is older than 55. There are absolutely no shops there

for the older customer. They have forgotten that older customers like

a place to sit -- they have taken out half of the benches, especially

around the Daily Grill and the parking garage. They could make the

new food court accessible for someone who has a walker or a cane. The

person has to walk the equivalent of two city blocks to get to the

only elevator to get to the food court. They left out that segment of

the population.

They also left out the larger-size customer, any customer over the

size of 12. Perhaps that is why Nordstroms Encore department is doing

such a landslide business. I think Fashion Island has to reconsider

not everyone is 30 years old with children. I have been a customer

there since 1971 and I still would like to shop there, but they keep

cutting me out.

SANDRA BASMACIYAN

Corona del Mar

A clean store beats a dingy old bowling alley

If it comes down to a choice of Kohl’s versus Kona, count me among

those who would rather see a clean, well-lighted discount clothing

store in the heart of Costa Mesa rather than a tired, dingy,

underused bowling alley with decaying landscaping and cracked parking

lots.

What is up with the Kona supporters? Have they actually walked

through the doors of this building in the recent past? The building

is a disgrace.

Bring on the wrecking ball, and let’s get something nice into this

huge empty lot.

CHIP NEDEAU

Costa Mesa

Kohl’s won’t bring anything to Costa Mesa

Regarding the proposed Kohl’s project at Mesa Verde Center: As a

33-year Costa Mesa resident and a Halecrest homeowner, I would like

to know what Kohl’s department store is going to bring to our

community that we don’t already have.

In addition to Target Greatland and Big Kmart, we have all of our

shopping needs met, all within a few square miles. If I need sporting

goods, I can go to Big 5. If I need linens, I can go to Linens and

Things at Metro Pointe. If I need electronics, I can go to Best Buy

or Sears. And that does not include all the clothing stores I could

possibly want or need.

What Kohl’s will bring to our community is more noise and traffic

and an unsightly, massive building, while diminishing our quality of

life. The Kohl’s project does not meet Costa Mesa’s general plan.

Anyone can go to City Hall to read the plan and review the actual

Kohl’s proposal. More importantly, the Planning Commission staff

recommended against the plan.

Maybe what Costa Mesa needs is its own Greenlight initiative.

MAUREEN PERRY

Costa Mesa

Corona del Mar needs to stay unified in City Hall

It would be a disaster to separate Corona del Mar in the City

Council redistricting.

Corona del Mar is the city’s ideal example of a residential

community and business community that work hand in hand, that get

along and that support each other.

In 1986, then-Councilman Phil Sansone founded the Corona del Mar

Resident’s Assn. Its board of directors has 13 seats representing the

different communities of Corona del Mar District 6. The association’s

bylaws require representation on the board from each neighborhood in

the sixth council district. The board meets monthly and receives

reports from City Council members, Planning commissioners, Parks,

Beaches and Recreation commissioners, as well as the Corona del Mar

Chamber of Commerce and the Corona del Mar Business Improvement

District.

The association takes polls of the residential community and is

the voice of Corona del Mar residents at City Hall. It is because the

residents have a strong, effective voice in city affairs that the

association has been able to work effectively with our local business

community.

The overwhelming community support for the Corona del Mar Vision

2004 Plan and for making East Coast Highway through Corona del Mar

more pedestrian friendly are examples of what a community can vision

if its residents and businesses work together.

To carve up our cohesive community in Corona del Mar would be a

tragedy for the village of Corona del Mar and for the city.

DEBRA ALLEN

Founding member of the Corona

del Mar Resident’s Assn.

Corona del Mar

Don’t forget about those who live on the Westside

All your articles have been about the small-business people on the

Westside. There is never a word about the residents who have lived

here for years who are not in business.

My husband and I bought our property in 1956 and have lived on

Whittier Avenue for 47 years.

It was like the country. We had an ocean view. There were cattle

grazing across the street in the oil fields. Now it is all big

commercial builders and storage buildings across the street.

I think the residents should be considered also during discussions

about improving the Westside. They have lived here longer.

My husband passed away Jan. 27 at the age of 96. He loved Costa

Mesa, this area especially, and so do I.

ORA HOLMES

Westside