Urging preservation

Deirdre Newman

Myran Drive is one of the last vestiges of the city’s early days -- a

small stretch devoid of concrete where four one-story houses sit side

by side.

The street is an oasis of calm just two blocks from bustling

Harbor Boulevard. Large pine and palm trees provide a canopy of

shade.

But a new development could destroy the rustic flavor of the

street, two residents fear.

Willard Chilcott intends to demolish one of the homes to build two

two-story, single-family homes. He said the market supports two-story

homes these days.

Pamela Frankel and Tiny Hyder are concerned that the two-story

homes will be incompatible with the one-story enclave. Frankel has

obtained 65 signatures from the neighborhood for a letter she wrote

to city officials asking them to reject Chilcott’s plans so the

unusual and historic nature of Myran Drive can be preserved.

“He’s not trying to build something compatible with those of us

who have been here forever,” Frankel said. “I am in great fear, and

my heart is broken.”

Chilcott counters that it’s not possible to build new development

compatible with the neighborhood when the homes on Myran were mostly

built in the 1940s.

“How can I keep it harmonious with the neighborhood other than to

leave the status quo?” he asked.

Frankel has lived on Myran Drive, which is an easement with no

through traffic, for 30 years. Her father lived there for 20 to 30

years before that, she said. Hyder’s family moved into their house

around 1949.

They said that Chilcott did not consult them and ask for their

feedback about how to make his project compatible before he drew up

plans to build the new homes on the lot in between theirs.

“I’m mostly upset because he didn’t sit down with both of us and

say, ‘This is what I want. Now what do you want?’” Hyder said.

Chilcott, who submitted his plans this week, said he spent a good

deal of time designing the best project possible within the limits of

the residential development guidelines. He said he talked to Frankel

many times.

“I have offered to include them in the design process, and they

haven’t been interested in the design process simply because they

don’t want anything to happen,” Chilcott said.

Frankel said she and Hyder are also concerned that Chilcott would

cut down the old-growth trees on the street since they had seen some

tagged for removal. Chilcott maintains that since there are no trees

on the property he is redeveloping, he won’t need to cut any down.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa and may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at [email protected].