Hoping to jump start a revitalization

Paul Clinton

Local business and city leaders have high hopes for a new condominium

and office project they say should revitalize sections of the city

near Harbor Boulevard and 19th Street.

“It certainly looks like it’s going to be a nice project,”

Councilman Allan Mansoor said. “But it’s going to take a lot more

than just that.”

Other pieces of the puzzle have begun to fall into place in one of

the oldest sections of the city, including several new businesses

between Harbor and the San Diego Freeway.

Rutter Development Corporation’s 161-unit condominium complex is

one component in the revamping of the historic retail center at 1901

Newport Blvd. The company will ask the city’s Planning Commission for

approval tonight.

In the year since Rutter bought a basically mothballed property,

executives at the company have been readying their plans and

aggressively working to lease out the 145,000 square feet of empty

space in the building. About 60% of the space is spoken for, Rutter

executives said.

The three-level project will house a blend of office space and

retail shops and a nightclub in the basement. The project would also

serve as a “shot in the arm” for the struggling Triangle Square,

Rutter Chief Executive Dave Eadie said.

“If you really want to have a revitalization of an area, you

should allow a development close to retail shops, close to a place of

worship,” Eadie said. “There will be less emphasis on the

automobile.”

The two-bedroom condos, which range in size between 1,450 and

1,700 square feet, will start at $300,000. They are expected to be

bought by young couples, so-called “empty nesters” -- older couples

whose children have left the house -- and people looking to buy a

starter home, Eadie said.

By establishing a housing project that offers homes for sale

instead of apartments for rent, Rutter said, they are trying to build

pride-of-ownership in the area.

“Owning a home is certainly part of the American dream,” Mansoor

said. “People who are buying tend to put more time and effort into

their community.”

In addition to the Rutter project, several other businesses along

Harbor and on 19th Street are expanding. A handful of new businesses

are moving in, as well.

Theodore Robins Ford, at the corner of Harbor and Bay Street, is

close to capping a deal to buy a 44,000-square-foot lot across the

street to store excess inventory and sell used cars.

Up the street, Norm’s Restaurant, at 2250 Harbor Blvd., is

wrapping up a $200,000 facade upgrade.

In 2001, the popular El Chinaco restaurant, which serves a blend

of Mexican and El Salvadoran food, moved to 560 W. 19th St.

At Costa Mesa Square, a new Henry’s Market will open its doors on

Friday.

Across the street, the new Baycrest Shopping Center will open with

a bank, a Subway sandwich eatery and a nail salon.

* PAUL CLINTON covers the environment, business and politics. He

may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at

[email protected].