SOUNDING OFF:

Huntington Beach is in the midst of a major face lift. The classic surf shops (Gordie, Greek, Sea Ski, etc.) are long gone. Jack in the Box on Lake (excuse me, on First Street) has gone the way of the dodo. Wimpi’s is gone without a whimper. Today, strip malls, restaurant plazas and lifeless parking structures are in vogue. Moms and pops who once owned small businesses are now grandmas and grandpas residing in assisted living facilities. Surf City is starting to look more like boring beige Irvine.

Don’t get me wrong, redevelopment has positive points: A person can walk on Main Street after dark without fear; hotels, motels and retailers are helping the local economy; our working class town has gone uptown (in some areas). The “new” Huntington Beach is missing one key element: character.

The Huntington of our youth has slipped away like a set wave after sunset. We’ve traded our soul for a score. That’s OK. Times are tough and we want to grow. Unfortunately, developers have taken everything that is cool about a surf town and exploited it without staying true to its essence. Most beach and mountain resort towns have a quirky look and feel to them. This is what keeps people coming back. If the beach town you are visiting looks like your hometown, why bother?

Huntington used to have a quirky and wild nature. Once we waited in line to see major musical acts at the Golden Bear. Today we wait in line to get seated in a generic restaurant. Once we had to dodge flying bottles from alleys and grimy apartments (anyone remember the filthy flats above Jacks?). Today we can walk with our kids past Jacks without a drug deal in sight. Yes friends, you have to accept the sweet and sour nature of change.

The reason I’m sounding off is simply this: Why can’t change and prosperity look interesting? Let’s try some colors besides beige. We’ve got plenty of wide beaches with lots and lots of beige sand. I’d suggest some new landscaping principles as well. The city should find young and innovative planners and architects to make our town sizzle with excitement. Right now Huntington Beach is part resort town, part bedroom community and part ugly (oil wells, industrial buildings, neglected businesses). Because of growing pains it will take at least 20 years before Surf City is aesthetically functional. Locals should tell City Hall what kind of town they want to live in. Long time locals like me have seen tin can beach become Bolsa Chica, Seacliff become a Stepford Wives community and crime-ridden streets become family places. If we don’t speak up, I’m afraid our beloved oil/surf/working class town will become another “Irvine” on the coast.

PAUL SANDOR is a freelance writer who lives in Huntington Beach.