A youthful outlook on Newport Coast center...

A youthful outlook on Newport Coast center

My name is Jared Paul Eckenweiler. I am 9 years old and live in

Newport Coast.

I don’t like this idea of building a community center in Newport

Coast because the sports teams can’t play at the fields. Of course

the people overlooking the fields would prefer grass rather than a

building because it is natural. Also, people like to play with their

dogs there. Those dog owners will not be happy with the City Council.

Finally, it is a waste of money. I can think of better ways for

them to spend $7 million. Also, the day it is completed, they’ll want

to destroy it. Destroying it will cost more money, so they should

make the right decision now rather than later.

JARED PAUL ECKENWEILER

Newport Coast

Time for St. Andrew’s to move on, upgrade

I feel I must weigh in on the St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church

expansion topic because I’ve lived for many years on Signal Road,

just blocks from the church in Cliff Haven. It was a beautiful area

in which to live and raise a family. At that time I was also a member

of St. Andrew’s church, and in fact my daughter was married in the

chapel there.

St. Andrew’s is truly an asset to the community in countless ways,

but it is time for them to move from their 3.9 acres to a much larger

campus where they can better serve their parishioners. Cliff Haven is

no place for any kind of institution with the space needs of this

enormous church. St. Andrew’s does not seem to take into account the

effect that it has already had in this area. On Sundays, our street

was crammed with cars and pedestrians on their way to services. Our

street was a major through-way to Coast Highway via Cliff Drive, and

the traffic was, at that time, more than any residential area should

have to put up with.

The letter in the Pilot the other day that suggested that the

church move to Triangle Square is not so far fetched. The days of a

little church in the neighborhood have passed. The success as a

congregation in terms of growth means it is time for them to sell

that property (which could net them a healthy amount) or put it to

another use and move to an area where it can spread out and serve its

needs better.

The neighbors there are right to be concerned about this proposal,

and the city would foolish and reckless to consider such an expansion

in an already crowded space.

LYNN BECK

Newport Beach

Simple answers for Triangle Square’s future

Stupidity is common; sense isn’t. Case in point: Triangle Square.

A member of the Costa Mesa City Council suggests that the city

claim eminent domain at Triangle Square due to sluggish business and

lack of parking. Common sense would tell you to increase access and

parking to encourage consumer traffic.

Claim eminent domain on property across the street near Borders

instead and construct a parking structure. Connect the parking

structure to Triangle Square with a pedestrian bridge and you would

solve the parking problem and encourage more foot traffic from the

neighboring community. The parking structure would serve businesses

all along Newport Boulevard. The bridge and parking structure could

be tastefully designed like the bridge over Pacific Coast Highway in

Huntington Beach. Replace the silly roof over the former Niketown,

and the center will do well.

RUSS NIEWIAROWSKI

Santa Ana Heights