City to help with ‘Vision 2004’

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- City Council members agreed to help Corona del Mar

business leaders wrestle control of a one-mile stretch of East Coast

Highway for a pedestrian-friendly village.

The Corona del Mar Business Improvement District has proposed a plan

called “Vision 2004,” which calls for wider sidewalks, trees, improved

building facades, drinking fountains, benches, and hanging flower

baskets, among other things.

The goal is to attract more visitors to stop and walk around Corona del

Mar, rather than simply drive through.

“We’ve been working on this for three years,” said business district

chairman Don Glasgow. “We want to move ahead.”

Council members on Tuesday voted to attempt to gain control of the

one-mile stretch of the highway that runs through the community’s

business district and is now controlled by the state Department of

Transportation.

Plans to renovate the area took off last summer when the group met with

architects, business people and residents to explore how they could

improve the business district and strengthen the community atmosphere of

Corona del Mar.

“The concept is novel and innovative,” said Councilman Dennis O’Neil, who

represents Corona del Mar. “We have a phenomenon in old Corona del Mar

[on this proposal]. We have the business and residential community in

agreement.”

O’Neil added that the unity inspires him to do all he can to support the

effort.

However, Councilman Tod Ridgeway pointed out that the council also needed

to explore the long-term maintenance costs of the highway.

Still, council members voted unanimously to begin the negotiation process

with the state, which, if successful, will lead to a relinquishment of

the highway by Caltrans by next year.

District members hope to present their plan to the City Council later

this year.