Neighbors rally at Triangle Park

When Donna Nelson was growing up, the Main Street Library was the only place she was allowed to go without her parents — and she could even stay there until 9 p.m. Almost 60 years later, Nelson regularly hops on her bicycle and heads over to the library or takes her dogs to the park, where she and her friends hung around as children.

So when the city proposed to turn the library and park into a cultural arts district, Nelson realized her childhood haunt was in jeopardy. She and more than 100 residents came out Thursday to rally against the city’s possible plans to redevelop the area.

“I think everyone would be sad about it,” Nelson said.

Neighbors gathered at the park they are trying to save with homemade signs and their children and dogs in tow. The possible development of a cultural arts district beside the residents’ homes is part of the city’s Downtown Specific Plan, which is a larger development scheme to increase tourism.

The residents don’t have an issue with the plan as a whole, just with the part that would build a performing arts theater, art center and underground parking structure on their park and in their neighborhood.

Mayor Keith Bohr said the plan will bring in all kinds of opportunities, including an up-to-date library.

“We’ll hopefully create a 21st-century library that can meet the needs of today,” Bohr said.

Residents have formed the Huntington Beach Downtown Residents Assn. and are circulating a petition against the development that already has 2,700 signatures.

“This library is now in jeopardy of being demolished. This park is now in jeopardy of being demolished. We would like to stop this,” association spokesman Kim Kramer said at the rally. “We understand the possibilities of what could be built here, and it’s not pretty.”

Kramer said the possible development would “degrade and demolish” the quality of life for the residents by taking away their park and library, increasing traffic congestion in their neighborhood and bringing more people to an already overpopulated area.

“The only ones who lose are the residents,” Kramer told the audience. “The quality of life will be lost and gone for everyone.”

Sue Hart has lived on 6th Street for 11 years and said she is terrified at the thought of the increase in people and traffic the development would bring.

“We are already so very impacted by Main Street and the chaos down there,” Hart said. “I’m all for progress. I’m all for a cultural center, but not in the middle of a residential district.”

The proposed three- or four-story cultural center is slated to be on top of Triangle Park, where Hart said local families picnic, kids play soccer and residents play croquet on the Fourth of July.

“It’s our last oasis. Our tiny demilitarized zone, if you will,” Hart said. “It will really, really degrade the quality of life.”

Terry Crowther, the spokesman for the neighbors of Brethren Christian Middle and High School who are expected to file a lawsuit against the city over the construction of a gym, urged locals to start fighting now if they don’t want the development to come to fruition.

“I’m telling you, if you don’t get on top of this early, they will shove it down your throats,” Crowther said.

Kramer echoed the sentiment and begged everyone to show their support at the city’s Planning Commission meeting Tuesday at the Huntington Beach Civic Center. The commission is holding two more study sessions before it is expected to vote in September.

“If we don’t act with unity and solidarity, we will get run over,” Kramer said.

Despite the call to quick action, the residents will have ample time in the future to voice their concerns, according to Bohr.

“I think it’s very premature [to protest], but it’s their right to do so,” he said.

Beyond the day-to-day problems the residents said would occur if the development happens, neighbor Karen Heidt said she is worried that developments might rob the city of its cultural identity.

“I feel the definition of Huntington Beach is at stake. We’re a surfing, hippie, kooky community,” Heidt said. “And it’s important to stay this way.”