Sunday, June 25, 2006
Ficker's Slicker Plan
Ficker's Slicker Plan
Our good neighbors across our southern border in Newport
Beach continue to wrestle with the problem of where to build
their new City Hall. Early-on in the dialogue, the city planned
to simply rebuild on the site of their present City Hall, down
on the haunches of the Balboa Peninsula. This site is no longer
appropriate for many reasons, the most important of which is
that it's difficult for many residents to reach - especially
during the summer crunch of beach-goers.
In a recent article in the Daily Pilot, renowned local architect and world-class sailor Bill Ficker presented a plan for a lovely new edifice on property near the center of the city - at Newport Center, adjacent to the Main Library. This site was supposed to be reserved for a natural park, so every environmentalist in Newport Beach appears to be going into a state of apoplexy over Ficker's suggestion. The article has apparently generated a near-record number of letters to the Daily Pilot, including one of mine similar to this posting.
More than a year ago, on June 11, 2005, the Daily Pilot published a letter of mine in which I seconded an earlier suggestion by a Newport Beach resident to utilize the area Ficker suggests for his idea of an ideal City Hall. That site remains the best possible location for many reasons. Having such a respected member of the community as Ficker propose a workable solution only adds to it's credibility.
I read the article in which environmentalists decry the suggestion of using that perfectly situated 12 acres for the City Hall, preferring, instead, to keep it open and natural. I think, however, it's a matter of priorities and what's best for all the residents of the city. And, I don't think the views of each side have to necessarily be mutually exclusive.
I'm sure Ficker's plan for a single story facility would result in a wonderful, useful City Hall. I'm also sure the environmentalist's ideas for a natural "oasis in the middle of the city" would also be nice. I suggest a compromise. I suggest a multi-story City Hall be built immediately adjacent to the Newport Main Library, with much-needed parking to be shared by that facility. In the remaining portion of that twelve acres the natural park so desired by the environmentalists could be created immediately above the new City Hall, providing a slightly smaller but nonetheless appealing oasis.
Re-building the seat of government at it's current location makes no sense when more centrally located options exist. That land, or at least the portion not necessary for a new fire station, could be sold to the highest bidder for a more appropriate use. That sale would likely cover much of the costs of a new City Hall at Newport Center.
I hope a voice of mediation soon may be heard on this issue and that the good neighbors to the south can move forward with their City Hall in the most appropriate location - the center of the city.
11:00 pm pdt
In a recent article in the Daily Pilot, renowned local architect and world-class sailor Bill Ficker presented a plan for a lovely new edifice on property near the center of the city - at Newport Center, adjacent to the Main Library. This site was supposed to be reserved for a natural park, so every environmentalist in Newport Beach appears to be going into a state of apoplexy over Ficker's suggestion. The article has apparently generated a near-record number of letters to the Daily Pilot, including one of mine similar to this posting.
More than a year ago, on June 11, 2005, the Daily Pilot published a letter of mine in which I seconded an earlier suggestion by a Newport Beach resident to utilize the area Ficker suggests for his idea of an ideal City Hall. That site remains the best possible location for many reasons. Having such a respected member of the community as Ficker propose a workable solution only adds to it's credibility.
I read the article in which environmentalists decry the suggestion of using that perfectly situated 12 acres for the City Hall, preferring, instead, to keep it open and natural. I think, however, it's a matter of priorities and what's best for all the residents of the city. And, I don't think the views of each side have to necessarily be mutually exclusive.
I'm sure Ficker's plan for a single story facility would result in a wonderful, useful City Hall. I'm also sure the environmentalist's ideas for a natural "oasis in the middle of the city" would also be nice. I suggest a compromise. I suggest a multi-story City Hall be built immediately adjacent to the Newport Main Library, with much-needed parking to be shared by that facility. In the remaining portion of that twelve acres the natural park so desired by the environmentalists could be created immediately above the new City Hall, providing a slightly smaller but nonetheless appealing oasis.
Re-building the seat of government at it's current location makes no sense when more centrally located options exist. That land, or at least the portion not necessary for a new fire station, could be sold to the highest bidder for a more appropriate use. That sale would likely cover much of the costs of a new City Hall at Newport Center.
I hope a voice of mediation soon may be heard on this issue and that the good neighbors to the south can move forward with their City Hall in the most appropriate location - the center of the city.
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