Lennar Corp. was top bidder for all four El Toro parcels (paying $1 billion, all told, for the 3,700 acres). But you can put Donald Bren in the winner’s column, too. Bren’s The Irvine Company had a lot riding on the outcome, given that its ranch surrounds the former Marine base. The last thing TIC wanted was an unknown entity in its midst, or an uncooperative party negotiating with it for easements and rights of way. And having more than one master developer at the future Great Park would have complicated matters. By contrast, Lennar, which has been building homes on the ranch for years, is known and respected by TIC. Lennar regional prez Emile Haddad says his company had many talks with TIC officials as part of its due diligence on El Toro: “They were surprised that nobody else took it to the same level of investigation.” Haddad is a guest on EE RR’s “Inside OC” March 9 at 7 p.m. …
Rumors had homebuilder Gen. William Lyon exploring a joint venture for El Toro with Standard Pacific, a losing bidder. But the Insider is told that Lyon abandoned that idea and instead plans to buy El Toro lots from Lennar; Lyon already is teamed with Lennar at the former Tustin Marine base …
Lennar is expected to invite a number of other developers onto the El Toro base so it can spread the financial risk; its investment partners include LNR Property Corp., Rockpoint Group, Blackacre Insti-tutional Capital Management and computer king Michael Dell …
The “A & A; Boys”,former Spanish PM Jose Maria Aznar and former U.S. Ambassador to Spain George Argyros,are speaking April 9 at UCI. They’re followed on May 5 by a lecturer with a different slant on things,former U.N. chief weapons inspector Hans Blix. For more information contact the School of Social Sciences at (949) 824-2511 …
The Insider hears that Roger Dunn Golf Shops is opening a store in Newport Beach, in the former pro shop at Newport Beach Golf Course. (That’s the executive course by the airport, not the country club by Fashion Island) …
Public affairs chief Julie Puentes is leaving the OC Biz Council to become OC region VP for the Hospital Association of Southern California …
Hot Stove Heaven: Dinner at The Cannery with Ron Salisbury, Dan Ardell and other baseball lovers, capped off with a talk by Dodgers great Don Newcombe …
David Dunn’s Athletes First golf and gala March 13 and 14 at the St. Regis resort in Monarch Beach will benefit Orangewood PALs. NFL quarterbacks Carson Palmer, Jake Plummer and Drew Bledsoe are among the athletes slated to attend. Call (949) 475-2251 …
Class was out at Newport Harbor High last week, rain was pelting the coast and the mountains were loaded with snow. What to do? “I think I see half of Newport Beach here,” David Paine said from Mammoth, where he was skiing with the family.
