Vision in focus for Corona del Mar

June Casagrande

CORONA DEL MAR -- A make-over of the community’s business district has

kicked into high gear following the governor’s signing of a bill to hand

over a stretch of East Coast Highway to the city.

Vision 2004, a long-awaited beauty boost to the quaint but aging area,

won’t be fully underway until after the City Council finalizes details of

a deal with Caltrans. But organizers aren’t waiting until January, when

they estimate the issue will be before the council.

They’re doing everything the rules allow to begin improvements.

“We’re not waiting for all the funds and approvals; we’re moving ahead

as quick as we can with what we can do right now,” said Don Glasgow, who

chairs the village’s business improvement district.

The district is in the process of buying 30 new woven-metal benches.

Workers have already removed about 100 ficus trees and replaced them with

about 100 king palms and about 90 Hong Kong orchid trees, which are now

in bloom.

Organizers say these are just the first visible signs of the Vision

2004 plan, which aims to revamp the village by its centennial three years

from now.

“It’s going to be a very special place when we’re through,” Glasgow

said.

Legislation signed by the governor on Oct. 12 will allow the city to

take over the stretch of East Coast Highway that runs through Corona del

Mar. Vision 2004 planners have advocated this deal because it will allow

them to replace generic-looking street lamps with “heritages” light

fixtures and make other aesthetic improvements. Advertisement-free bus

shelters and entry monuments are also planned.

“What this does is it brings the aesthetic quality of the business

district of Corona del Mar up to the standard of the surrounding

community,” Planning Commissioner Ed Selich said.

Plans call for dark green accents on benches and other fixtures to go

along with extensive work on sidewalks, median landscaping and other

beautification measures. Encouraging outdoor dining will be another theme

to promote the district’s goal of increased pedestrian traffic.

But the deal isn’t done yet. Probably beginning in January, the City

Council will scrutinize details of the Caltrans deal. Points of

contention that could create roadblocks include questions about

maintenance and legal liability for the stretch of highway.

Funding issues loom, too. Much of the estimated $12-million price tag

will come from Caltrans. The city has committed $150,000 so far. No

special tax or assessment to property owners or businesses is planned.