Condos by JWA proposed

Builder’s plan for 86 condos on 3.7 acres is first pitch for residential development near John Wayne Airport.The first-ever residential project for Newport Beach’s airport area has been proposed by a development company with offices in Costa Mesa.

Brookfield Homes Corp. is seeking approval to build 86 condominiums at 1301 Quail Street. Newport Beach’s planning commission is expected to begin talks on the proposal, which is being called Quail Street Residences, next month.

Brookfield’s proposal includes seven buildings on 3.7 acres, with a maximum height of 45 feet. At the earliest, construction could begin next summer, said David Bartlett, Brookfield’s executive vice president of land entitlements.

Under Brookfield’s proposal, 17 condos would be designated as affordable-housing units. Bartlett quoted baseball great Yogi Berra when he said it was too early to know how much the proposed condos may cost.

“It’s tough to make predictions, especially about the future,” Bartlett said.

Newport Beach assistant city manager Sharon Wood confirmed that if the project is built, it would be the first residential project for Newport’s airport area. In Newport Beach, the land around John Wayne Airport is dedicated to commercial uses such as office space, retail and hotels.

In addition to the Newport proposal, Brookfield has been involved in “infill” projects in Anaheim and Long Beach, David Bartlett said. Infill describes new projects that are built in areas that have already been developed. A report prepared for the planning commission states the land where the proposed condos would be built is currently used to store cars.

Infill projects have become desirable for developers as land becomes more scarce, Bartlett said.

The condos would be marketed primarily to young professionals, Bartlett said. He touted the proposed project’s proximity to an existing retail center, restaurants, the Back Bay and Newport Beach, and Irvine’s business districts.

“It’s a very convenient submarket here. You’ve got access to thousands and thousands of jobs,” Bartlett said.

The planning commission’s evaluation of the project will be shaped by the ongoing process of updating Newport’s general plan, planning commission chair Michael Toerge said. The plan would guide development in Newport through 2025.

Thursday, the planning commission is set to discuss land-use issues throughout the city as part of the general plan update process. Toerge said he did not know if commissioners would be ready to make a final decision on the proposal when it is scheduled to go before the body Dec. 8. However, he said it would be unfair to have asked Brookfield to wait until next year for a hearing.

* ANDREW EDWARDS covers business and the environment. He can be reached at (714) 966-4624 or by e-mail at andrew.edwards@latimes.com.

20051112iptiprkn(LA)Brookfield Homes has proposed what could be the first residential development in the John Wayne area at 1301 Quail Street.