BREA
Construction is under way at the Brea Plaza Shopping Center off the Orange (57) Freeway and East Imperial Highway for an expansion. The estimated $35 million project was designed by Orange-based Architects Orange. Plans will be completed in several phases and are set to include a five-screen theater complex, an upgraded parking lot, public sidewalks and four new buildings along with renovations of existing buildings. This is the first major reconstruction the center has undergone since the early 1990s. The developer is Michigan-based Bosc Equities LLC in partnership with Brea-based MHA Consulting Inc. KPRS Construction Services Inc. in Brea and Huntington Beach-based Dennis Lorton & Associates Inc. are the contractors. The stores coming to the space are Mother’s Market & Kitchen, Total Wine & More, Chik-fil-A and a Chipotle Mexican restaurant, among others. The first store openings are set to begin this summer and continue through February of next year.
GARDEN GROVE
Townhomes are under construction on Harbor Boulevard and Palm Avenue. The property was purchased in 2006 by In-Town Communities LLC. A motel previously existed on the land. The project is expected to include 78 townhomes ranging from an estimated 1,300 to 1,800 square feet. Other amenities to be included are a pool, spa, sundeck with cabanas and courtyards with water features. The cost of the project was not disclosed. Seal Beach-based Olson Co. is the developer of the project. Santa Ana-based William Hezmalhalch Architects Inc. is the designer. Sales are expected to begin in early March.
HUNTINGTON BEACH
A Taco Bell on Edinger Avenue and Gothard Street has been demolished to make way for a modern building for the restaurant. Taco Bell Corp. is owned by Louisville, Ky.-based Yum Brands Inc. The 2,700-square-foot property is owned by Ramesh Patel of Sonar Inc. Plans for the space include an updated dining area and newer technology for faster service with a drive-through. The architect is Aviano Group Inc. in Victorville. The contractor is Costa Mesa-based Oranco Development Inc. Expected cost of the project is $700,000. The restaurant is slated to reopen in late May.
MISSION VIEJO
The 32-year-old Gateway Center on Alicia Parkway and Jeronimo Road will be getting a facelift. The project includes a 2,079-square-foot addition to an existing building, six additional parking spaces, replacement of the rotten wood, changes to the center’s exterior, landscape improvements and installation of decorative water features. Also to be built is a 3,000-square-foot building, which could be used for a full-service restaurant. Glendale-based Ihop Corp. has signed a lease to occupy one of the spaces with a restaurant. The four-phase project on the 8.5-acre lot could take two years to complete, with a March start date slated. The developer of the project is the owner of the center, Los Angeles-based Westwood Financial Corp. The architect is David Hidalgo Architects Inc. of Arcadia.
TUSTIN
Construction has begun on an aquatic center at Foothill High School. An Olympic-size pool will replace the old 25-meter pool. The project also includes a pool deck, exterior showers and drinking fountains, a one-story mechanical and pool equipment building, fencing, stadium-type lighting and steel shade structures over bleacher seating areas. The center will allow the school to host swim meets and water polo tournaments for the first time. The $3.7 million project will be funded by the $95 million Bond Meas-ure L, passed in 2008 to repair and renovate schools in the Tustin Unified School District. The project is scheduled to be complete by the start of the 2010 to 2011 school year. NTD Architecture of San Diego worked on the design and San Diego-based Barnhart Inc. is working as the contractor.
