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Great Park, continued ...
The plan
While Agran
acknowledges that plans have moved slowly, he notes an upside: “The
more time and resources you invest in design, the better the product.”
Agran also believes that skeptics are overlooking one thing: We’re going to have a park. And that’s better than an airport.
In
2002, voters shot down the Orange County Board of Supervisors’ 3-2 vote
to make the former base an international airport. The biggest pusher
for the Great Park was Irvine, which convinced the county to let the
city annex the land.
In the four years since the
annexation, Lennar has been paying the tab for all the expenses. But
Campbell is concerned that Irvine residents may have to pony up to keep
the park going.
The
current sluggish economy brought much of the planning to a standstill.
No one can predict Lennar’s timetable for development, but Agran says
the board has more than $400 million in the bank to get construction
going. Park planners expect to approve a 36-month development program
at their April 23 meeting.
The park, which will include five entry points, will essentially be divided into three areas:
• the canyon, which made the final cutoff after some discussion that it was too expensive to excavate;
• the habitat park, which will include wildlife and native plants;
•
the primary parkland, which will include a military memorial, sports
facilities, picnic areas, cultural and entertainment areas, and a
botanical garden.
Just how soon will all this happen?
Planners used to talk about 10 to 15 years. Now Agran estimates 20,
maybe 25 years. But in just three years, he says, we will see a bona
fide park that will create jobs.
“Nationwide, when you talk
about major parks,” says Agran, “you will talk about Central Park in
New York, Golden Gate Park in San Francisco and the Great Park.”
OCM
Great Park, continued ...
The plan
While Agran acknowledges that plans have moved slowly, he notes an upside: “The more time and resources you invest in design, the better the product.”
Agran also believes that skeptics are overlooking one thing: We’re going to have a park. And that’s better than an airport.
In 2002, voters shot down the Orange County Board of Supervisors’ 3-2 vote to make the former base an international airport. The biggest pusher for the Great Park was Irvine, which convinced the county to let the city annex the land.
In the four years since the annexation, Lennar has been paying the tab for all the expenses. But Campbell is concerned that Irvine residents may have to pony up to keep the park going.
The
current sluggish economy brought much of the planning to a standstill.
No one can predict Lennar’s timetable for development, but Agran says
the board has more than $400 million in the bank to get construction
going. Park planners expect to approve a 36-month development program
at their April 23 meeting.The park, which will include five entry points, will essentially be divided into three areas:
• the canyon, which made the final cutoff after some discussion that it was too expensive to excavate;
• the habitat park, which will include wildlife and native plants;
• the primary parkland, which will include a military memorial, sports facilities, picnic areas, cultural and entertainment areas, and a botanical garden.
Just how soon will all this happen? Planners used to talk about 10 to 15 years. Now Agran estimates 20, maybe 25 years. But in just three years, he says, we will see a bona fide park that will create jobs.
“Nationwide, when you talk about major parks,” says Agran, “you will talk about Central Park in New York, Golden Gate Park in San Francisco and the Great Park.”
OCM
