Compiled by Chris Hannigan
Construction has begun on Cypress College’s $16 million student center and bookstore. The project is the first new buildings for the campus in 30 years. Earl Corp., a general contracting company based in Irwindale, is handling the majority of the work. Other companies will do the electrical, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning and plumbing systems within the buildings. The buildings, designed by Pasadena architects Flewelling and Moody, are set to be completed in early 2008. The two-story student center will house administrative and counseling offices. The bookstore will be 8,600 square feet. Cypress College is one of three community colleges in the North Orange County Community College District. It serves 13,000 students.
Irvine-based Empire Homes LLC plans to convert an apartment complex to townhomes at 11090 Cynthia Circle. Empire recently bought the 99-unit complex from a private investor for an undisclosed amount. The 8-acre project was approved by the city last fall. Plans for the project, dubbed Arezzo, call for 140 townhomes to be built over two-car garages. Floor plans will range from 1,300 square feet to 1,550 square feet, and will feature two to three bedrooms. Estimated construction costs were not disclosed. Torrance-based Withee Malcolm will provide architectural services. Empire plans to break ground on the project later this year.
Bank Repo Auto recently opened at 770 S. Harbor Blvd., the former site of a Mitsubishi auto dealership. Bank Repo specializes in selling commercial trucks that were repossessed by banks, including specialty vehicles, utility trucks, cargo vans, passenger vans and pickups. The company’s been in business for 15 years. The site previously had been considered for housing and retail development.
The Bowers Kidseum, part of the Bowers Museum, has reopened at 1802 N. Main St. after eight months of upgrades and renovations. Crews gutted upstairs offices to make way for a larger conference and recreational room. The interior also was painted and carpeted. Some of the children’s equipment was replaced. The Weingart Foundation donated $400,000 for the project, which the museum matched through various fund raising.
At the northeast corner of Los Alamitos Boulevard and Katella Avenue in Los Alamitos Plaza, several redevelopments are under way. Last April, a fire damaged one of the buildings in the plaza, forcing businesses to temporarily close. After months of construction, Creative Cakery, Inch-By-Inch clothing store and an optometrist office are set to reopen in June. Papa’s Western Barbeque also is set to reopen in June, but in an expanded space. The restaurant doubled its size to 3,600 square feet. Nick’s Deli, which has a restaurant in Seal Beach, will open a second restaurant and take the final building spot. Elsewhere in the plaza, Starbucks has just finished construction on a coffeehouse. Other major tenants at Los Alamitos Plaza include Hoff’s Hut restaurant, Keller Williams Real Estate and Bixby Carpets.
In preparation for the NCAA Women’s Water Polo Championship this month, the city has been doing renovations on its 50-meter swimming pool. The pool is at the Joint Forces Training Base at 4522 Saratoga Ave. Various contractors drained the 465,000-gallon pool, painted and resealed the inside and replaced interior lights and filters, according to city officials. Crews also renovated the locker rooms and meeting area. The project lasted about two months. The total cost of the renovations: about $100,000. The Los Alamitos Aquatics Foundation, Seal Beach Swim Club and several other groups donated money for the upgrades.
