Factions debate beneficiary of city’s plans

A roughly $43 million development agreement with the Irvine Co. will likely affect a February ballot measure that would require Newport Beach’s next city hall to be built next to the central library. Factions on both sides of the issue, however, disagree on who will benefit at the ballot box because of the deal.

For their part, Irvine Co. representatives say they want to stay out of the heated community debate over where city hall should go.

“We would love to see city hall in Newport Center,” said Daniel Miller, Irvine Co. senior vice president of entitlement and public affairs. “But we won’t take a position on where it should go. We want to remain politically neutral.”

The company has agreed to pay Newport Beach $27 million in development fees to build a new city hall wherever it chooses as part of the deal to create a new planned community in Newport Center. North Newport Center Planned Community would include 430 housing units and expanded retail space for the Irvine Co.

The goal is a pedestrian-friendly mix of retail, office and residential space in Newport Center. City hall would fit well into that mix, Irvine Co. officials say.

“Wherever city hall goes, the money follows,” Miller said. “Everyone gets something out of the it.”

Newport Beach residents against the ballot measure to build city hall next to the central library on Avocado Avenue say the Irvine Co. deal offers the city a cheaper alternative to building next to the library. As part of the deal, the Irvine Co. would give the city an option to buy land for a new city hall in Newport Center between Santa Rosa and San Nicholas drives at the city’s appraised price of about $7.7 million.

“It’s the basis to bring the city together,” said Newport Beach City Councilman Keith Curry, who has been an outspoken opponent of the February ballot measure. “It’s what everyone wants. And it ends the division in our community.”

Proponent’s of architect Bill Ficker’s plan to build next to the central library have long claimed the site would be the cheapest spot for a new city hall because the city already owns the land and because of its central location in Newport Center.

But the promise of another site in Newport Center offers voters a reason to vote against the February ballot measure, Curry said.