Thinking outside the box

There has been much discussion in the Daily Pilot, at city council

and planning commission meetings, and with our neighbors on the

proposed expansion of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Newport

Beach and with the usage of Triangle Square in Costa Mesa.

Here are a couple of proposals from me about St. Andrew’s and

Triangle Square that are outside the box of previous discussions.

* The city of Costa Mesa would buy Triangle Square for the fair

market price of a half-empty shopping center and make it the new city

hall and police station. The current City Hall and police station

would then be sold to land-locked Vanguard University, which wishes

to expand its student body and campus.

The city, if it has extra space at Triangle Square, could lease it

to companies who could meet the parking requirements of the city

planning and traffic departments.

It’s a win for the owners of Triangle Square, who get their money

out of the property and get to leave an unfriendly town. It’s a win

for Vanguard University, which gets room to expand its campus. It’s a

win for the city, which gets a new city hall and police station. And

finally, it’s a win for Triangle Square, which gets fully occupied

and gets the respect it deserves.

* The Newport Mesa School District would sell half of the Newport

Harbor High School campus -- the west campus that borders 15th Street

-- to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, thus saving $20 million to

$30 million in Measure A funds and earthquake retrofitting of a

number of older buildings, including Norman R. Loats Performing Arts

Center and Robins Hall.

St. Andrew’s would move its campus from its current location on

the west side of 15th Street to a newly-built sanctuary and church

buildings on the east side of 15th Street. To finance the purchase of

the land and construction of the new facilities, St. Andrew’s would

build two- and three-story condominium buildings with underground

parking on its old site, and then sell them. That would keep most of

the properties west of 15th Street residential.

Using the savings from the earthquake retrofitting, the Measure A

funds destined for Newport Harbor High and the income from the sale

of the west campus, the school district would construct a new, modern

campus for Newport Harbor High School on its half of the property

bordering 16th Street, including a new Loats Performing Arts Center

and Robins Hall.

St. Andrew’s and the school district would jointly build a parking

structure that would be used by both.

It’s a win for the Newport Heights neighborhood, which keeps its

residential feeling. It’s a win for St. Andrew’s, which gets more

room for expansion. It’s a win for Newport Harbor High School, which

gets new, modern facilities, unmatched in the school district.

KIWANIS CLUB GETS A SCHOLARLY THANK YOU

The Costa Mesa Kiwaniscope printed the following letter to club

President Dee Pritchard, from scholarship recipient Kyle Nicholas.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you have done

for me. My two years at Orange Coast College and CKI have been

unforgettable and extremely pleasant. I can truly credit the workings

of the Circle K International club for current success at getting

into UC Berkeley and helping me find my major of conservation and

resource studies (environmental science). It not only looks extremely

interesting but seems to be very useful for future environmental

challenges.

“I promise that your investment in me will not be regretted. I

plan on working very hard and one day obtain my master’s degree.

Thanks again for helping me with my financial needs, and I hope to

one day make you proud of your decision.

“Thanks again, Dee, for all your help and guidance,

“Sincerely, Kyle Nicholas, Orange Coast College Alumni!”

MEET THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBER

On Aug. 10, Speak Up Newport will give the public an opportunity

to meet newly appointed City Councilman Edward Selich. Selich was

appointed to complete the term of Steve Bromberg, who had been

serving as mayor until his appointment as a Superior Court judge.

The meeting will be held at the Newport Beach Yacht Club, 1099

Bayside Drive, starting at 5 p.m., with appetizers and a cash bar,

followed by the program at 6 p.m. For more information, call (949)

224-2266.

WORTH REPEATING

From the Thought for the Day as provided by Greg Kelley of the

Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council: If you want to lift yourself

up, lift up someone else.

-- BOOKER T. WASHINGTON

SERVICE CLUB MEETINGS THIS WEEK

Help your community and the world through a service club! For

many, service club membership is an extension of our religious

beliefs and congregation affiliation.

You are invited to attend a service club meeting this coming week

to learn more about opportunities for service. Most clubs will buy

your first meal for you as you get acquainted with them.

MONDAY

6:30 p.m.: The Harbor Mesas Lions Club will meet at the Costa Mesa

Country Club. Visiting District 4L4 Governor Jack Luellen will be the

featured speaker.

TUESDAY

7:15 a.m.: The 48-member Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club meets

at the Five Crowns restaurant for craft talks

(www.newportbeachsunriserotary.org).

Noon: The Rotary Club of Costa Mesa, now in organization with 15

members, meets at The Club House at South Coast Plaza.

6 p.m.: The Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions Club meets at the

Costa Mesa Golf and Country Club for a business meeting.

WEDNESDAY

7:30 a.m.: The Newport Harbor Kiwanis Club will meet at the

University Athletic Club.

Noon: The Exchange Club of the Orange Coast meets at The Bahia

Corinthian Yacht Club for a business meeting.

6:15 p.m.: The Rotary Club of Newport Balboa meets at the Bahia

Corinthian Yacht Club for a visit by District Governor Bill Peloquin.

THURSDAY

7 a.m.: The 20-member Costa Mesa Orange Coast Lions Club meets at

Mimi’s Cafe.

Noon: The 50-member Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club will meet at the

Holiday Inn for a program on “The Beauty of California”

(www.kiwanis.org/club/costamesa); the 50-member Kiwanis Club of

Newport Beach/Corona del Mar meets at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht

Club; the 85-member Exchange Club of Newport Harbor meets at the

Nautical Museum for a business meeting (www.nhexchangeclub.com); the

100-member Rotary Club of Newport Irvine meets at the Radisson Hotel

(www.nirotary.org).

* COMMUNITY & CLUBS is published Saturdays in the Daily Pilot.

Send your service club’s meeting information by fax to (714) 921-8655

or by e-mail to jdeboom@aol.com.