Marine Base redevelopment is a hot trend in the East Bay these days. The old marine base at El Toro in Irvine had a successful end - it is now the celebrated Great Park - but the redevelopment process led by the City of Irvine was a complete mess.
The Navy auctioned off the land to a conglomerate of developers, namely land developer Lennar. The City of Irvine then annexed the land into the city, and managed the development process. It was led by Councilman Larry Agran and his “board of directors” (4 City Councilmembers plus 4 community members at-large). From start to finish the City botched the job, from zoning changes negotiated behind closed doors to shady no-bid contracts to 14 companies.
Ten, count ‘em ten, developers were linked to the Irvine Business Complex. And of course, all these no-bid contractors and developers funneled money right into Larry Agran’s pockets, which resulted in 15 mailers touting the Irvine Councilmembers legislative success. Full story here: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/-238941--.html?data=1
There are a lot of parallels between Alameda Point and El Toro, so let’s just hope Alameda officials don’t look to the marine base at El Toro as an exemplary model of the City functioning as the developer. My concern is that they are, and that their teacher doesn’t seem to know what they’re doing. The Irvine Board of Directors fell prey to corruption and misinformation, just like we’re seeing in the Alameda City Hall Chambers.
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Well, I agree with your conclusion that both Alameda and Irvine are not set up to be land developers, but saying the Great Park is “a successful end” to El Toro redevelopment is way off base.
ReplyDeleteFYI, the City of Irvine has so far spent over $125 million on plans, studies, marketing, etc. for the Park, but nothing has yet been built. Except, of course, for a big orange helium balloon that is tethered to the ground.