BREA
Los Angeles-based Mercury General Corp., which has its technology and human resources headquarters in Brea, has begun construction on a parking structure at the corner of Imperial Highway and Berry Street. The insurance company also acquired almost six acres of additional land near its property that was previously home to The Hitching Post, a recreational vehicle/trailer sales business. Mercury likely will use the land to expand its office space in Brea, though at this point no planning documents have been finalized with the city. The land, which currently is used for parking, could hold more than 25,000 square feet of office space. Once the parking structure is complete, the company plans to explore building the office space. W.M. Klorman Construction Corp. in Woodland Hills is building the parking structure.
HUNTINGTON BEACH
The Huntington Beach Union High School District is in the midst of school renovation projects funded by a bond measure. The Newport Beach office of McCarthy Building Cos. is construction manager for all the school improvements. Construction is moving along at a Westminster High School stadium. The $9.5 million Boswell Field will feature artificial turf, restrooms and concessions. The district is paying $8 million to build the Cap Sheue Field Stadium at Huntington Beach High School. Additionally, McCarthy is overseeing major renovations to the school’s Darrel Stillwagon Auditorium and performing arts classroom building. Each of these projects is on track to being completed this spring.
FULLERTON
California State University, Fullerton, will soon begin construction on a student housing project at its main campus. Plans by Steinberg Architects call for five dormitory-style buildings and a one-story dining room. Each of the larger residence halls will be five stories tall and have apartments for faculty and residence coordinators, administrative of-fices and a recreational lounge. Site improvements will include a piazza, surface parking lots and bicycle enclosures. Funding for the $143 million project comes from a school bond. Cal State Fullerton Design and Construction Director Michael Smith said construction is on track to begin in March, with completion set for 2011. PCL Construction Services Inc. in Los Angeles is the design-build contractor.
WESTMINSTER
The Planning Commission approved plans to build an office building on Beach Boulevard near Westminster Boulevard. The proposed site previously was occupied by two separate office buildings. One is being replaced by a larger, 4,865-square-foot building and the other will undergo some remodeling to create continuity and comply with city ordinances. Two tenants will occupy each floor of the new building. The remaining building will receive a new roof, windows, awnings, paint and stucco. Teresa Colangelo Trust is the property owner.
TUSTIN
Red Hill Lutheran Church in Tustin is pouring concrete slabs for its new Christian Life Center on the site of its now demolished 5,000-square-foot fellowship hall. The building is set to include 13 classrooms, a multipurpose room and kitchen in about 24,000 square feet. The building program is part of expanding the onsite school from 365 students to 500 students in the next three to five years. The project also will convert an existing school lunch area into a temporary fellowship hall while the new structure is going up. This temporary facility will then become a classroom and kitchen. The church and school are at 13200 Red Hill Ave., on a site totaling slightly less than 5 acres. The architect is Lundstrom and Associates Architects in Santa Ana and the general contractor is Consolidated Contracting Services Inc. of San Clemente. The church values the project at $4.2 million.
EARLY PLANNING
United Cerebral Palsy of Orange County is planning a special needs childcare facility, but hasn’t settled on a location yet. The Early Childhood Learning Center will serve 80 to 120 children with and without disabilities. Center staff will offer physical, occupational and speech therapy services for children. The 20,000-square-foot facility will include classrooms, therapy rooms and outdoor play areas. Estimates put construction costs at $8 million to $10 million. The nonprofit is working with the Urban Land Institute during the design process. Project funding comes from donations and fundraising. Honda Center Director of Corporate Sponsorship Bonner Paddock raised $250,000 for the project by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
If you’re a developer or city planner and would like to see a project featured in Around the County, please contact Kelly Ryan at ryan@ocbj.com or (949) 833-8373. The column covers projects in Orange County’s cities and unincorporated areas, and some projects in Corona. Commercial, housing and retail projects are the focus of the column. Some larger public works projects also are included.
