Beek’s last challenge thrown out

An Orange County Superior Court Judge on Friday threw out the last of Newport Beach activist Allan Beek’s challenges to the new City Hall in Newport Center.

“We win some and we lose some, I just wish I could win some,” Beek said. “I wasn’t really expecting much of this one.”

In his lawsuit, Beek claimed that Newport Beach had to hold a special election under the city’s Greenlight Initiative to build its next city hall on 12 acres in Newport Center.

Superior Court Judge Gail Andler ruled Newport Beach voters already gave their approval when they passed Measure B in February 2008, Beek said. The measure passed with 53% of the vote.

Beek said he has no plans to appeal the ruling.

Earlier this week, a California court of appeals upheld Measure B, tossing out another of Beek’s legal challenges to the city hall project.

Meanwhile, the city has moved ahead with plans for building a city hall and park on the Newport Center site overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

The project could cost as much as $100 million, according to early estimates.

Preliminary plans for the project include a bird-watching area, children’s gardens, walking trails and a cafe.

City officials hope to break ground on the project in 2010 and move into the new facility in 2012.