No open space for the arts

Mathis Winkler

NEWPORT BEACH -- The verdict’s in, and it’s open space.

After months of discussion about a controversial proposal to build an

arts and education center on open space behind the city’s central

library, City Council members decided Tuesday to reject the project.

“We really do need” an arts and education center, said Councilman

Steve Bromberg, who had chaired an ad hoc committee that researched the

proposal. “But this is not the place for it.”

His comments echoed those made by environmentalists and residents who

had come to the meeting to express their opposition to the project. All

said they’d support such a center. But they added that they didn’t want

to use open space to bring it about.

Responding to that sentiment, Councilman Tod Ridgeway, the lone

dissenter from the decision, challenged residents to help find an

alternative site.

He mentioned that a narrow Irvine Co. parcel north of San Miguel Drive

-- literally across the street from the open space land -- might be worth

a look.

While the center would no longer be located next to the central

library, it would still keep it in the general area, Ridgeway said,

adding that it was up to center supporters to find out more.

Arts Commissioner Don Gregory, who has emerged as one of the center’s

leading proponents, said Wednesday that the company property would be

“the next logical place for it,” adding that he’d not looked into the

matter.

Company officials could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Gregory, who said he was disappointed and still a little dazed after

Tuesday’s decision, added that he’d not given up on the project.

But some alternative sites, such as Lower Bayview Landing, the Orange

County Art Museum, Corona del Mar High School or the Port Theater on East

Coast Highway, had problems associated with them.

“I don’t go along with the notion that it doesn’t matter where [a

center] is as long as it is,” he said. “It’s got to be accessible.”

Supporters of a central park on the land behind the library said

Wednesday that they were thrilled with the council’s decision.

“We will do anything we can to support plans to be drawn up as soon as

possible,” said Claudia Owen, a member of Stop Polluting Our Newport.

But she added that it was up to parks, beaches and recreation

commissioners and council members to decide what they wanted to do with

the open space.

“We’ll give them as much cooperation as we can possibly give them,”

Owen said, adding that the city might be able to get state bond money to

pay for a park.

Mayor Gary Adams -- responding to comments from residents that the

city’s scarce open space should be permanently protected from any

development -- also suggested a city-sponsored ballot initiative to put

restrictions on such land.

If approved, only a citywide vote could allow building on the land.