Nautical museum eyes Balboa Fun Zone

Andrew Edwards

Though no deal has been finalized, Newport Harbor Nautical Museum

officials have opened an escrow account that could lead to the museum

relocating to the Balboa Fun Zone.

If the deal goes through, the museum would own land currently

occupied by parts of the Fun Zone, Balboa Fun Zone Rides Inc.

president Joe Tunstall said. The bumper cars, arcades and scary ride

could become a part of Balboa history if the move happens.

“Anything inside a building could be affected,” Tunstall said.

The landmark Ferris wheel would remain if a relocation happens,

Tunstall said. The merry-go-round would also likely keep its spot.

The Fun Zone is only one option being considered by the Nautical

Museum. Museum president Glenn Zagoren emphasized the museum has no

plans set in stone to relocate to Balboa Village and called the

escrow a “fail-safe” in case other options for the museum’s

relocation do not work out.

A decision on the museum’s next location could come by the end of

the year.

“You will definitely have information on where we’re moving by

December,” Zagoren said.

The museum is currently housed in a riverboat in the harbor near

East Coast Highway on property leased from the Irvine Co. That lease

is set to expire in 2008.

Irvine Co. officials have not yet decided what they plan to do

with the property, company spokeswoman Jennifer Hieger said.

Other options for the museum include Marinapark, the 9.8 acres of

waterfront land owned by the city of Newport Beach on the Balboa

Peninsula.

A city committee, which held essentially organizational meetings

in March and April, has been formed to discuss possible uses for

Marinapark, which is the site of a mobile-home park. The committee is

not expected to make a formal recommendation, and the City Council

will have final say over what happens to the land.

The committee will discuss options May 17, said City Councilman

Tod Ridgeway.

“You are going to see a presentation of about 10 different plans,”

said Ridgeway, a committee member. “This is where we’re going to get

into the meat of what we’re going to do.”

As of Friday, Ridgeway’s impression was that the museum would not

end up at Marinapark.

“That isn’t to say it can’t be put on the table,” he said. “We’re

not dismissing it in total, but pretty close.”

The escrow was opened in early March, and closes Dec. 15, Tunstall

said.

Zagoren said the length of the escrow indicated much work will be

done before a decision is made, and Tunstall similarly said the

museum’s relocation to Balboa Village is far from certain.

“If they don’t want to complete the escrow, nobody’s going to hold

their feet to the fire,” Tunstall said.

The nautical museum could be a positive addition to Balboa

Village, Tunstall said. He sees the museum as an attraction with the

potential to lure visitors to the area year-round.

Bob Black, president of the Balboa Village Business Improvement

District, agreed the museum could be a boon to Balboa Village if it

relocates to the Fun Zone.

“I think the museum’s going to upgrade the area a whole lot,” he

said.

* ANDREW EDWARDS covers business and the environment. He can be

reached at (714) 966-4624 or by e-mail at andrew.edwards@

latimes.com.