Developers and concerned residents tussle in Orange County, California, as a property meant to host an art museum moves toward redevelopment as high-rise luxury condos instead.
"It never was the intent of Irvine Company to see its gifts to public culture turn into a private development. We hope the City of Newport Beach will continue to use the entire property as intended, for cultural purposes." So reads a statement from the Irvine Company about a Newport Beach property it donated to the Orange County Museum of Art in 1977.
As it moves to Costa Mesa, "the museum has entered into an agreement to sell its Newport Center site to Related California Urban Housing, LLC." On the site, Related has proposed Museum House, a 25-story, 100-unit residential project. Units will sell for $2-4 million each.
On Oct. 20, the Newport Beach Planning Commission approved the project. And now, the Newport Beach City Council has also approved the controversial plan. Local residents are joining the Irvine Company's objections with protests of their own, citing concerns about density and traffic around the Newport Center commercial district.
FULL STORY: Irvine Co. Voices Objection to Museum House
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Planning for Universal Design
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American Planning Association, Sustainable Communities Division
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