Owner of Port Theater should be...

Owner of Port Theater should be part of solution

I totally agree with your Thursday editorial regarding the Port

Theater in Corona Del Mar. What does the owner intend to do with the

property, and is he willing to renovate it (including for

earthquakes) in order that it does not remain a “vacant eyesore” and

will always remain “compatible with the surrounding Corona Del Mar

village atmosphere?”

The owner should appear before the City Council and answer this

question to justify the granting of historical landmark status.

RUSSELL HOWELL

Corona Del Mar

Questions on Marinapark need to be answered

I read Stephen Sutherland’s well-written commentary on the Forum

page of the Daily Pilot Sunday morning with feelings of nostalgia and

concern. His comments were informing, but also gave rise to many

other concerns.

As to the nostalgia, I spent the summers of my childhood at that

trailer park, where I learned to swim, fish and boat. I returned to

this area to make my home some 40 years ago. So much for nostalgia,

which are my credentials, and almost as honorary as the author’s? No

offense intended.

Revitalization of the area is a matter of subjective opinion, as

the appearance of the of renewal project nearly completed at the

Balboa Bay Club. Functional, I’m sure, but lacking in creativity of

design. The area serves community, including, residential, civic and

business. The hotel will reduce the permanent residents from 15 to

zero, if the numbers in the article are accurate.

What will happen to the park? Where will all the employees park?

How many new employees will the city of Newport Beach be required to

hire to service this new project?

How much money will the city be required to spend to make this

project happen? Will this project improve or add to the traffic flow

burden in this area?

Child protection is always a laudable comment in light of the

state’s inability to locate 33,000 sex offenders. The state’s budget

deficit is all spending more than its income.

But, this project is not all about just dollars and cents and the

protection of the innocent. It’s about sense. Does it make sense to

move too rapidly until all the questions are answered?

And I am not a card-carrying member of Greenlight.

RICHARD A. HOUGHTON

Newport Beach

Port Theater deserves to be a landmark

The Port Theater does not deserve “landmark” status. It deserves

to be torn down.

PETER OETH

Corona del Mar