Mailbag: Pacific City leaves sea of questions

Pacific City, LEED, Little League, Angela Rocco DeCarlo, Paul Cross, Makar Development

Now that the dormant Pacific City project on Pacific Coast Highway is showing signs of life, it is all but certain that a prior $20-million promise of Pacific City for funding of a new senior center will not come to fruition. It should not be forgotten that Makar, the former owner of Pacific City, expended a considerable amount on non-LEED-certified design and engineering studies for the center. Is the city legally liable for those expenditures?

In this regard, the project initially was touted by some as being free to the city of Huntington Beach because it was to be built on five acres of city parkland with the building expenses to be absorbed by Makar. Underpinning the promise was an anticipated Makar obligation of $20 million in park fee obligations flowing from a project density of 516 condominium units. In the amazing world of corporate finance, the new owners of Pacific City will construct the same number of units, as apartments, and apparently will end up paying considerably less than $20 million and nothing at all until “final inspection” on a building-by-building basis.

The carrot offered by the city (dense development) continues to exist, but the reward to the city is much diminished. As well, under the arrangement presently proposed by the new owner, another reward to the city of a new hotel and retail development along PCH need not start construction until at least half of the apartments that can be converted to condos have been constructed. The city could impose penalties if the hotel and retail construction subsequently are not initiated, but as time passes, the city, anxious to end its embarrassment over a gaping hole along PCH, likely would agree to additional demands from a developer. I suggest that the city hold fast to the requirement for simultaneous construction of dwelling and commercial components, although there might be some give on the exact mix.

Paul Cross

Huntington Beach

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A big thumbs-up for Little League

Cheers!

Come on — let’s hear it for the legions of men, women, parents and friends who donate their time, creativity and pizza to mold future good citizens via the marvelous enterprise of Little League Baseball.

I wish I had the names of all the good managers and coaches I’ve watched teach and charm our two DeCarlo grandsons — Andrew with the 11-year-old Rockies in Huntington Beach Ocean View and Sam with the 8-year-old Yankees in Long Beach. As well as their All Star teams in both venues.

What an uplifting experience to watch these little boys being challenged and formed through the educated skill of their managers and coaches. These volunteers deserve all the credit and accolades possible.

Such hard-working volunteers take time from their own families and work to coach youngsters in the rules of the game, as well as life, as the kids play their hearts out for the love of baseball.

I greatly admire the skill, patience and dedication in the coaches I’ve seen — as well as those I haven’t seen — which they deploy all season long.

Hurrah for them all, with thanks from those on the sidelines who only “stand and wait” for the big win.

Whether it comes or not, the stellar Little League experience of good sportsmanship, humility, competitiveness and compassion, while following the rules of the game, is worth everything to the players, their families and fans. We must keep this ethos alive for future Little League players.

Thank you, Little League volunteers — coaches, managers, scorekeepers, snack providers, etc. You are admired and appreciated.

Angela Rocco DeCarlo

Orange