Compiled by Kelly Ryan and Paul Hughes
ANAHEIM
Several eco-friendly green homes are now under construction at the corner of South Street and Bellevue Drive. Anaheim-based Colony Developers LLC purchased five parcels from the Anaheim Redevelopment Agency in 2007. The land was left vacant after the Caltrans Santa Ana Freeway widening project. The parcels were reconfigured to create 10 lots. Two homes have already been completed and one sold earlier this month. Colony plans to deliver four more homes in May and has plans to build homes on the remainder of the lots. Corcoran Botich Associates is the architect. The homes have four bedrooms, three bathrooms and range in size from 1,709 to 1,860 square feet. Each home will be listed at $500,000 to $600,000. Some environmentally friendly features include: recycled content construction materials, a tankless water heater and weather-based irrigation controls.
BUENA PARK
M & D; Properties of Lynwood can keep rolling on its project at Beach Boulevard and Orangethorpe Avenue after a unanimous Buena Park City Council approval of the development last month. The developer has been buying the land around the corner, which now holds a gas station, car wash, Japanese restaurant, an old hotel and a few housing units. The developer is planning to build up to 35,000 square feet of retail and some 1,000 condominiums at 6940 Beach Blvd. With the housing market in flux, some or all of those condos could be reconsidered. Also approved is one 300-room hotel with meeting space and 350,000 square feet of open space and amenities. The developer has the option to build 195,000 square feet of additional office space instead of 177 of the condos.
If it all comes together, this could be a significant project for North County and Buena Park. M & D; spokesman Larry Lazar said the development could stand at 15 stories or higher. The developer also plans to build a multi-level parking structure with more than 4,500 spaces. Lazar notes final project design, engineering and financing are still coming together. M & D; owns the Carousel Mall in downtown San Bernardino and is developing a mixed-use project in Pasadena.
HUNTINGTON BEACH
A residential and retail development likely will go up on Center Avenue, near Golden West College. Original plans called for a six-story apartment complex dubbed The Ripcurl. In September, the city Planning Commission approved a general plan and environmental impact report for 330 total units instead of the 440 requested. Irvine-based developer Red Oak Investments appealed to the City Council, which on Nov. 10 granted about 100 units per acre, slightly less than the original design. Developer DJM Capital Partners is planning another six-story building nearby, with 45 residential units per acre.
IRVINE
University of California, Irvine, is holding a groundbreaking in February for its Media Arts Building and Gallery, near the corner of West Peltason Drive and Mesa Road. The 38,000-square-foot project incorporates technology into its design to assist students in art creation and presentation. The $42 million building has areas for sound design and multi-media performances. Plans call for a motion-capture studio, art gallery and offices. A related part of the construction project is a separate addition to the Production Studio. Steven Erlich Architects in Culver City designed the buildings and Sacramento-based Edge Development Inc. is the contractor. Construction should be finished in January 2010.
SAN CLEMENTE
Some renovations are going on at San Clemente Presbyterian Church, located near the San Diego (I-5) Freeway at Avenida De La Paz. The project features a 1,000-square-foot expansion of the church’s existing sanctuary building. Additionally, the church is building a mezzanine seating area and improving its audio-video systems and theatrical lighting. Church leaders plan to have off-site parking agreements with surrounding businesses to accommodate increased attendance. Construction should begin in January. Alfredo Quintanar Associates is doing the architectural work and Roel Construction Co. is handling construction.
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
Friess Construction Inc. is donating construction management services for a youth building addition to the Capistrano Valley Boys and Girls Clubs. The Teen Center Annex will be situated near the city’s community center and park, at the corner of Camino Del Avion and Del Obispo Street. The 7,000-square-foot building will serve about 800 teens. Construction began in July and the building should open in January. HB & A; Architects in San Marcos provided design services for this addition and for the original club buildings.
