The Marines may have left, but for the past year a military-sounding project dubbed Logic Lab has been quietly conducted inside an aircraft hangar and on a runway at the former El Toro base. However, the only weapons this lab might produce are ones that could give Lennar Corp. an edge in the homebuilding business. Lennar, master developer of the planned Great Park at the base, has so far constructed and then razed about 40 prototype homes,including whole housing tracts,in search of better and cost-effective construction techniques, consumer-friendly features and “green” technology. Bob Santos, Lennar’s Great Park “general,” said the company “is trying to get innovative in the construction of homes, which hasn’t changed much since the innovations by builders immediately following World War II.” Innovation is difficult nowadays, he said, because it’s costly to make and fix mistakes in the field. But when Lennar acquired sprawling El Toro, within minutes of its Western HQ in Aliso Viejo and a commercial airport (John Wayne), Santos said COO Jon Jaffe saw a chance to set up a test site. Lennar has flown in its execs from around the country to inspect the homes, attend classes and observe focus groups. Santos said lessons learned in the lab already are being applied at Lennar construction sites throughout California, and the company expects additional findings to benefit homes that will go up at the Great Park and elsewhere …
Despite the housing downturn that has battered Lennar (a $244 million loss for the quarter ended May 31 and forecasted losses ahead), Santos said the Great Park remains on pace, with the first homes set to hit the market in late 2008 or early 2009: “We’re thinking a leap of faith that this correction will work itself through and then stabilize” …
The Winery, opening soon in The District, the new shopping and entertainment complex at the former Tustin Marine base, has a vintage list of owners. The restaurant’s two dozen investors include Shady Canyon residents and ballplayers, such as Mark McGwire, Chuck Finley, Darin Erstad, lawyer Todd Theodora and Freedom Communications CEO Scott Flanders. The managing partners are restaurateurs J.C. Clow and William Lewis, formerly of Morton’s in South Coast Plaza Village …
The Insider is told golf great and NBC analyst Johnny “63” Miller is among those who have bought a lot at The Strand at Headlands in Dana Point …
Washington Times chief diplomatic correspondent Nicholas Kralev addresses a World Affairs Council of OC dinner July 23 at the Irvine Marriott …
The Insider touched base with Newport Coast businessman and sports agent Dwight Manley. He’s working on a movie script with Penny Marshall, developing a reality TV show and advocating for jockeys (“getting minimum mount fees raised”). And friend Jesse Jackson was on hand at Mastro’s Ocean Club Fish House to help Manley’s girlfriend Bella Tatarian celebrate her birthday.
