Theater’s limelight overshadowed Regarding the commentary “Tightening...

Theater’s limelight overshadowed

Regarding the commentary “Tightening Measure S loopholes”:

Greenlight has publicly announced they are going to make a “test

case” of the Balboa Theater, which is a community project that has

been steadily moving uphill despite some setbacks. A project to help

bring forth the right mix of visitors that will fill a needed void to

get Balboa back on track. A project that has been led by community

leaders and volunteers who are committed to making it happen.

A little history here will explain our first efforts to secure

architectural plans -- at major dollar expense -- to build a basement

that would house the necessary facilities that comprise a multi-venue

theater in a very small space. There was nowhere else to expand and

complete the mandated disability act requirements.

At this point of securing the permit to move ahead, the liability

of putting in a basement became a delicate point to city staffers.

After many months of discussion, and inactivity, the decision was

made to approach the Orange Julius owner to negotiate to purchase or

lease the building for space that was needed to properly operate the

theater. During this long period, volunteers continued to move

forward with necessary efforts to be ready when the decision was

finally in place.

When negotiations to secure the building next door failed, project

leaders sat down the architects to take another look at what could be

done to make this project work. Joint discussions brought forth that

the building could indeed accommodate what was needed if we “went

up,” as opposed to down. Leaders found they could use the rooftop

deck for small readings and donor events, which would be serviced by

a tower that would house the elevator and stairway, and still support

all the necessary space required by the Americans with Disabilities

Act and needed for a performing arts and cinema theater.

This new look was presented to the city and introduced to the

community in an event scheduled to “relaunch the theater project” in

a positive new light. The Newport Beach Planning Commission

unanimously approved the plan, and the Balboa Theater Group moved

ahead toward securing Coastal Commission approval, which was

projected to take several months and thus prolong acquisition of the

necessary permits needed to move ahead.

So, here we are, almost 10 years later, still very much involved

and committed to getting the Balboa Theater project completed so that

it best serves the interests of downtown Balboa, as well as providing

the entire city of Newport Beach -- and the surrounding communities

-- with an appropriate theater art and cinema venue.

Enter Greenlight’s “sour grapes” attitude, alas to attack the

Balboa Theater Art’s 10-year project. Greenlight has declared it a

test case scenario to offset the General Plan amendment that would

allow the theater to “go up” with city and Coastal Commission

approval. They call this tightening the Measure S loopholes -- all in

Greenlight’s efforts to “protect the will of the citizens.”

Since when do citizens of our city need to be protected from a

10-year theater arts project with the goal to make Balboa a

destination place; to make the theater operable in a small space with

nowhere else to go but up?

No wonder Costa Mesa has the successful Performing Arts Center,

Segerstrom Hall and South Coast Repertory Theater: They didn’t

encounter the Greenlight bully to challenge their level of

development and traffic congestion. And they now have the highly

successful, world-class theater and arts program.

Greenlight’s decision to request the help and vote of every

concerned Newport Beach resident about the level of development and

traffic congestion of the Balboa Theater -- as outlined in the

commentary written by Philip Arst and Richard Taylor -- is a

misplaced attempt to squelch a very sincere and honest effort by a

handful of dedicated people. People who were trying to bring back the

glory of Balboa by the sea, a wonderful place to be.

DAYNA PETTIT

Balboa

Give voters a say on condos at 1901 Newport

Should voters get to vote on the 1901 Newport Plaza condominium

project? I would definitely say yes. That’s just too much impact

there.

WILLIAM OWEN

Costa Mesa

City officials can decide the fate of 1901 Newport

Should the 1901 Newport project be put to a vote for all the

residents to vote on? I don’t think I’m in favor of that. I think I

will trust our Planning Commission people and our City Council people

to make some wise decisions that will be best for everybody involved.

PAUL KELLY

Costa Mesa

Primal cries and presidential primaries

In response to Joseph Bell’s column “Hearing just a shout of

frustration”: I’d like to offer a quote of our second president, John

Adams, who said, “Great is the guilt of an unnecessary war.”

DICK GOLDMAN

Corona del Mar