Triangle Square--Where Retailers Go to DisappearWilliam Lobdell has a column (HERE) in the Daily Pilot today about the latest attempt in Costa Mesa to turn a sow's ear into a silk purse.
This latest plan involves rebranding Triangle Square more as an entertainment hub with a modern gym, etc. Think, single 30 somethings looking for Mr. or Ms. Right.
We hope it works, but we've been around too long to really think it will.
As we've written before, we see two ways to make Triangle Square work (without tearing it down and starting over):
1. Dig a cut and cover tunnel from the 55 Fwy down to 15th Street real fast and then turn the street above into a downtown pedestrian friendly open air town square with Triangle Square as the main focus of attention.
2. Lease out Triangle Square to a college or government entity (such as the DMV or as City Hall for Costa Mesa) so that those who go there will have to go there and will have to park down in the caverns.
Had we been active in Costa Mesa when Triangle Square was first proposed, you would have seen us going to the podium and telling the City Council that is was a mistake.
Even though we weren't involved in meetings back then, we can, in our mind, almost hear the sales pitch that was done. And, it all involved getting the maximum gross leasable square footage out of the available footprint. The proforma probably looked great and was no doubt full of dollar signs.
It's the kind of thing you pitch in cities such as New York or Tokyo where land is scarce and you have to go vertical.
Speaking of Tokyo, maybe Godzilla can rearrange Triangle Square for a new start.
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School Tells Kid To Take American Flag Off Bike--Afraid Of Racial Tensions
Link
So, how's that tolerance and diversity stuff working out America? It's sort of adding up to intolerance for traditional American values and European-Americans, isn't it? And, you being a red blooded--"Don't put any hyphens in my name, I'm just an American" American--thought all the rest of the world just wanted to come here to be like you and wave the American flag, didn't you?
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HERE'S THE AGENDA FOR TUESDAY NIGHT'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING
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Those are our opinions. Thanks for reading them.
CM Press, did you see the absurd article from Wendy Leece in the Daily Pilot? Can't believe she is trying to justify her stupid vote on that horrible police contract.
ReplyDeleteAt the risk of giving you a "big head", your ideas with regard to Triangle Square are right on (especially about the concept of putting something in there that people HAVE to go to).
ReplyDeleteKudos! It would make a great city hall.