Maybe a little hometown pride instead of Kohl’s

I am responding to the question in Wednesday’s edition of the Daily

Pilot: “What should go into the empty space at the Mesa Verde

Center?” I am copying this message to Chris Steel, mayor pro tem of

Costa Mesa, just so he can see the suggestion as well. I don’t know

who at City Hall is in charge of implementing these various projects,

so I am hoping it will be routed to the appropriate person or

committee. Thanks in advance.

I think that since the Kohl’s department store proposal fell

through, another great use for the empty lot there in Costa Mesa

would be to put a Hometown Buffet restaurant there. This city does

not currently have one (I have checked). It would be big and require

a lot of parking spaces, sure -- but it would be smaller than the

Kohl’s project overall, and residents would have a great place to go

and eat. Seniors in the community could take advantage of the great

senior discounts that Hometown Buffet always offers. Families could

go there to enjoy meals together. Granted, there are other food

places in the vicinity, all great eateries, but Hometown Buffet is

different and would help provide variety, convenience and, yes,

hometown pride to our residents. Maybe the future franchise owners

would even allow there to be old Costa Mesa historical photographs

hung on the walls, to celebrate the hometown spirit. There would be

jobs created there, as well, of course.

Other possible ideas:

* A skate park (skateboards and inline roller skates) -- one or

more members of City Council have gone on about wanting one in the

city for a long time, and this would fulfill the “entertainment” need

in that location.

* Perhaps a video arcade or game hall for kids and young adults.

REBECCA MCKENNA

Costa Mesa