It’s back to the drawing board to determine site of $41M Estancia High arts complex
Newport-Mesa Unified School District officials have gone back to the drawing board in determining the location of a proposed $41-million theater at Estancia High School — a matter some say was decided without enough community input.
In a town hall meeting Thursday on the Costa Mesa campus, school and district administrators sought feedback from students, parents and residents about five possible locations reviewed in 2019 by members of a project review committee.
Site 2, the original choice of the panel — which comprised teachers, district staff and a parent and community representative working with an architect — sits on a portion of the east end of campus occupied by a parking lot and a senior lawn with sycamores planted by students in the late 1960s, shortly after the school opened.
Although the site was selected for its prominence and affordability of construction, some students and community members have decried that a senior lawn, which they describe as a badly needed and much used greenspace, would be demolished to accommodate the complex.
Costa Mesa city leaders have also challenged the project and its proposed siting, claiming NMUSD trustees approved the project without holding the necessary public hearings and environmental review. Although a judge last year found the complaint had missed a crucial deadline, city officials have appealed the decision.
Estancia High Principal Michael Halt intimated Thursday court proceedings have forced a “momentary pause” in construction plans.
“Our superintendent has taken advantage of this pause to do something we probably should have done a while ago, which is hear from you,” Halt said. “Tonight is really an opportunity for you to talk to us about some of the benefits and challenges you see in the different locations.”
After a brief presentation on the history and context of the project from facilities development director Ara Zareczny, who detailed the pros and cons presented by each site, including increased costs and time delays, attendees were asked to post comments for and against each possible location using sticky notes.
Estancia junior Sofia Kehoe expressed her preference for Site 1, near the southeast entrance, which the district committee eschewed because it would require the costly replacement of a sewage facility.
“I know I’m not going to be here much longer, but I have plenty of siblings who are going to be here, so I want to make sure it’s going to be the best for everybody,” she said.
Senior Jamieson McLellan, a member of the tennis team, opposed Site 4 on the north end of campus, which would require removal and relocation of the school’s tennis courts. He hoped for a solution that would disturb the least number of students.
“The students weren’t as involved as we would have liked,” McLellan said, who preferred Site 1 or Site 5, on the southwest corner of campus, currently occupied by solar panels that would have to be moved elsewhere.
Football coach Mike Bargas said Site 3, on Estancia’s northeast corner near the athletics facilities would remove valuable parking and a corridor people use to access sporting events. He, too, preferred Site 1.
“[In the district] we have ‘haves’ and ‘have nots,’” Bargas said, comparing Estancia to other campuses, where new performing arts complexes have already been built. “This is a chance for the school to shine. Why not give such a chance to shine and have a Taj Mahal like Costa Mesa [High] does?”
Costa Mesa resident Leslie Murtaugh, retired after 35 years of teaching at NMUSD, graduated from Estancia in 1975 and saw her daughter graduate in 2017. She said a new theater is not only badly needed but would benefit every elementary school and junior high that feeds into Estancia and, as such, could use the facility.
“I want the best for our children — to me, that’s where our time, money and energy should be spent,” she said, indicating a preference for Site 1. “To put a jewel on the city’s westside would be so lovely.”
Halt assured attendees all comments posted would be considered by the district’s Board of Trustees, which has a final say in the matter.
“I promise you they will be read by every decisionmaker at the site level, at the district level and by the ultimate decision makers at the board level,” he said.
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