The present owners have slated in a first phase development a new two-story office building in the complex's existing nestled rear parking lot. This lone proposed structure (a typical office "box") will, in and of it self, ruin the articulation of space, structure and natural light so elegantly composed by Neutra. Unfortunately, this architectural cancer is only the first phase and it gives me a stomachache to report that the owners have city approval as well as an open building permit, which means they could begin construction any time, unless they have a change of heart or the city of Newport Beach realizes the gravity of the situation and reevaluates in a more sensitive manner the future of this Historical Inventory-listed structure. Hopefully it's not too late and the owners will realize what an architectural travesty their proposed project would be and switch direction. Please change course!
"Phase 2" calls for demolishing two of the three buildings and replacing them with a parking structure. I can't help thinking of Joni Mitchell's lyrics; "Paved paradise to put up a parking lot." There has to be a better way! "Phase 3" demolishes the remaining existing orphaned structure, replacing it with a new office "box" to be added with its "conjoined twin", built in Phase 1, thus concluding the decimation of a true architectural symphony, never to be experienced again, ever.
