Taking the high way

Deirdre Newman

It’s not often that a stretch of concrete evokes giddiness, but when

that concrete happens to be part of Pacific Coast Highway, the

excitement can stop traffic -- literally.

That’s what happened Thursday morning during a celebration

commemorating the official transfer of a section of Pacific Coast

Highway from the auspices of Caltrans to the city. That section

stretches from Newport Coast Drive to Jamboree Road.

The ribbon cutting took place on the center median of the highway

at Marguerite Avenue, with traffic in all directions blocked off by

police for a few minutes. It was just one highlight of the grand

opening ceremony in honor of Corona del Mar’s 100th birthday.

The kickoff attracted more than 100 celebrants and included

luminaries like state Assemblyman John Campbell and longtime Corona

del Mar residents Inez Howald, 90, and Luvena Hayton, 83.

Many of the speakers extolled the unified vision of the Corona del

Mar community -- both residents and business owners -- in developing

a plan of improvements for the highway that cuts through their

village. Their vision would not be able to be accomplished without

the city taking over this stretch of Pacific Coast Highway.

But that proved to be an arduous task.

“The attitude of [Caltrans] was pretty much, ‘Do it our way or

take the highway,’” said Ed Selich, who directed the “vision plan”

and is also a planning commissioner. “Well, we did it. We took the

highway.”

In 1999, members of the Corona Del Mar Business Improvement

District urged city staff members to negotiate with Caltrans to take

over the portion of the highway. At first, Caltrans was only

interested in relinquishing all of Pacific Coast Highway in Newport

Beach to the city.

Efforts to get what the city wanted proved fruitless until

Campbell stepped in to help.

“The ‘Vision 2004’ people came to me in 2000 and showed me the

whole plan -- immediately I fell in love with it,” Campbell said

after the ceremony. “I never lived in Corona del Mar, but I’ve been

coming here since I was a little kid. I thought the whole vision idea

was great and the community was behind it. I went to work because

they couldn’t do anything unless they owned it.”

After some wrangling with Caltrans, Campbell was able to get the

legislature to approve a bill in 2001 enabling the transfer.

In March, the City Council followed suit with its own approval.

But even that was agonizing, Mayor Tod Ridgeway said Thursday.

“It was not a foregone conclusion that we would get four votes,”

Ridgeway said. “Luvena pounded on the podium and said there was a

pothole on the street and, ‘If you don’t take over the highway, I’m

gonna shoot you.’ So, out of fear of being shot, I voted for it.”

The Thursday ceremony also featured an official groundbreaking for

the Centennial Plaza, which will cost $150,000 and be paid for by the

Centennial Foundation.

Foundation Chairman Bernie Svalstad said the foundation is still

looking for funds and construction companies willing to donate their

efforts. The plaza will be in the same location the ceremony took

place -- the upper parking lot of Bandera Restaurant -- and contain a

clock tower and a donor recognition wall.

“How exciting it is we’re all standing on this historic ground,”

Svalstad said. “In the near future, a plaza will be built with tiles

many of you have purchased and painted. It will be the focal point of

Corona del Mar -- a place to mark our history.”

Corona del Mar residents who came to celebrate the kickoff were

thrilled by the event.

“We’re so excited,” said Serene Stokes, the school board member

who represents Corona del Mar and has lived in the village with her

husband, Sid, for 30 years. “I’ve never seen this community come

together as much as they have for this celebration.”

And longtime resident Hayton expressed her appreciation at being

able to attend the event.

“I’ve had a stroke, so I’m grateful to be here,” Hayton said. “All

I’m doing is crying. If I cried pretty, I wouldn’t mind. But I cry

ugly.”

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers government. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at [email protected].