Watchdog group watching Newport

An economic watchdog group is pointing to a state-owned property in Newport Beach as an example of how the government lets such high-valued assets sit unused.

The problem is, the 15-acre parcel won’t sit unused much longer. The state just sold it to the city of Newport Beach for $5 million, and the city plans to turn it into a park.

The property at West Coast Highway and Superior Avenue is one of seven stops planned next week by Americans for Prosperity, a Washington, D.C.-based group that describes itself as supporting economic freedom.

“What we’re trying to do is highlight for taxpayers how their money is being mismanaged or spent in a wasteful manner before they head to the ballot box,” Americans for Prosperity spokeswoman Annie Patnaude said.

She said she wasn’t aware the state sold the parcel, which her group estimated as worth nearly $13 million. It’s slated to become Sunset Ridge Park, with soccer and baseball fields, and other amenities.

“We’re going to be highlighting other surplus properties as well,” Patnaude said, adding that it’s good that the Newport property was sold, but the state has dragged its feet on selling plenty of others.

The sale of the park property was finalized Oct. 12. Newport Beach City Councilman Steve Rosansky, who pushed hard to get the land for the city, said the state has had some trouble unloading the parcel.

“The state’s tried to sell that property twice before and got no bidders,” he said.

The watchdog group also plans to visit the former MTV beach house in Malibu, a state-owned facility worth $11 million; and a stop in Fresno is intended to point out the state cannot account for 25% of the cars it owns. The tour will hit Newport Beach on Tuesday.