Buena Park Eyesore Could Be a Model for ‘Transit Village’

In what may be a model for future transit-oriented development in Orange County, city officials want to turn a 12-acre Buena Park eyesore into a “transit village” complete with a Metrolink station, affordable housing and a day-care center.

The concept is of great interest to Orange County Transportation Authority officials considering a $1-billion urban rail system that would run from Fullerton to Irvine. The so-called CenterLine would count on 50% of its funding from a federal program that gives priority to projects that integrate housing, business and public transit.

A vote on whether to move forward on urban rail will be made by transit board members in December.

“If we could demonstrate that in Orange County cities along this corridor are interested in pursuing this type of development, that would certainly help our chances of getting the funds,” said Dinah Minteer, the transit agency manager for the CenterLine.

Transit officials praised Buena Park’s plans at Monday’s board meeting after a presentation by Buena Park City Manager Greg Beaubien.

“We hear so much talk of livable cities,” said board member Laurann Cook, a Fountain Valley councilwoman. “Here is an example of something that would really make a difference in people’s lives.”

Plans call for 90 townhomes for Cal State Fullerton faculty members hard pressed to afford Orange County real estate prices. Although the professors are not expected to be heavy users of the train station--being only 4 1/2 miles from campus--the university’s interest in the property would make it an easier deal to close for Buena Park officials.

“This is a win for everybody,” said Bill Dickerson, executive director of the Cal State Fullerton Foundation. “Right now that’s a site that’s literally unused, not producing anything in the way of revenue or anything.”

If the city of Buena Park can acquire the land at a decent price, work on the project could be underway by next year, Beaubien said. A decision on the sale of the land should be made within the next 60 days, he said. So far, about $4 million of the needed $5 million for the city’s portion of the project has been lined up, he said.

The private developer for the project is the Catellus Residential Group, an Irvine-based real estate company that is building 350 luxury homes right across from the proposed train station. The station--with 200 parking spaces--would be convenient for those residents.

Negotiations are underway with the county flood control district, which owns the oddly shaped parcel of land just north and east of the Santa Ana Freeway.

Transit officials say they hope the plans can be a template for other Metrolink stations proposed for Laguna Niguel and Tustin, as well as an inspiration for development around existing depots. And they said it is a sign of growing interest in the county in finding ways to stay off the notoriously clogged freeways.

“There is a lot of opportunity for similar projects on the CenterLine,” board member Sarah Catz said. “I’ve already had developers approaching me with ideas for housing communities near rail lines. This is a very exciting idea.”

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Home Away From Home

A Metrolink station would be the anchor for a proposed development in Buena Park. Cal State Fullerton and city officials are working together on plans for a train station, 90 townhomes and a daycare center on the 12-acre site. The project could break ground next year.