Had we been active when the City Council back then was considering approving building Triangle Square, you would have seen us go to the podium and say to the Council: "Are you out of your friggin' minds?"
Triangle Square should never have been built as a retail center. It just doesn't work.
And, the facility will never be a money maker for its owners unless certain things happen or are done.
Here's what we would say to those who want to make Triangle Square work.
1. If it is to remain a retail center, the 55 Freeway has to be undergrounded and the area up above--which is now a busy street--has to be turned into a pedestrian friendly square. Maybe with no cars at all.
Then, the area from the present Mother's Market to Triangle Square would turn into a prosperous Town Square for Costa Mesa (assuming proper traffic circulation elements and parking are added on the fringes).
Unfortunately, undergrounding the 55 with present economics is way off in the future, if at all.
2. Triangle Square could be turned into a college.
3. Triangle Square could be turned into office space. Maybe even a new City Hall for Costa Mesa, and the present City Hall could be sold to Vanguard University, which wants that building as part of its campus.
Or, maybe we could get the DMV to move from W. 19th Street to Triangle Square and free up its 19th Street site for a proper retail center or supermarket.
Options 2 and 3 get around the problem with the underground parking, because students or those working in the offices or going to those offices would have little choice but to park in the caverns--which is something that retail customers, who have a choice, prefer not to do.
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Those are our opinions. Thanks for reading them.
I've always liked your city hall idea Martin.
ReplyDeleteTriangle Square needs to be a "destination mandatory" location, as opposed to a "destination optional" location.
If people have to go there, they will. Otherwise, not.