Mailbag: Mariners illustrates competing views of Newport Beach

At the base of the controversy regarding development and expansion in Mariners Mile is the dichotomy of the two images associated with Newport Beach.

There is the side of Newport that conveys wealth and glamour and the side that relishes its nautical image, beach cottages and traditional buildings, which provide the comfortable image of the past.

While most residents admire the beautiful structures, opulence and variety of architecture in Fashion Island, they envision the part of Newport that begins at Dover and extends almost to Hoag Hospital as the “ downtown area.” It is the only downtown area that Newport Beach really has, if you count out Balboa Island.

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The two images of Newport are not incompatible in a city whose population exceeds 87,00. There are areas that are entirely modern, such at Newport Coast, Big Canyon, Newport Terrace and many more. A beach cottage, or a small nautically designed business, would look out of place in these neighborhoods. And for the same reason, overly large buildings with other than “beach-friendly” architecture stand out in the “downtown” Mariners Mile.

These two images of Newport are at the bottom of the controversy over the style of buildings and the expansion of Mariners Mile. Because the three neighborhoods closest to Mariners Mile are older, more traditional neighborhoods, the majority of the residents in these areas, and probably many of the other areas in Newport as well, still want to hold onto their past.

This nostalgia is expressed by the desire for “beach-appropriate architecture” on a scale that matches as much as possible the other traditional buildings in the area. Large, modern structures look out of place in this architectural environment. Also, overly large structures in this perceived “downtown area” risk not only destroying the views of property owners but also what has made Newport so unique and so popular.

Lynn Lorenz
Newport Beach

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Roundabouts aren’t fair play

Re. “Newport officials have a turnabout on a planned roundabout,” (Feb. 22): It is said the best learning experience is based on learning from one’s mistakes. It’s too bad the city of Newport Beach doesn’t subscribe to that theory.

Twenty-some years ago, the city placed a roundabout at he corner of Cliff Drive and Irvine Avenue. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who had trouble trying to figure out how negotiate a left turn using this traffic nightmare.

The city eventually ended up tearing up the roundabout and going back to the stop sign that had been controlling traffic for decades. I see the city is once again going down the roundabout road.

Apparently, the city didn’t learn its lesson from the last time it installed a roundabout.

Rob Macfarlane
Newport Beach