FACADE TO BE SAVED : GOLDEN BEAR NIGHTCLUB TO BE RAZED

The defunct Golden Bear nightclub in Huntington Beach is yet again slated for destruction, to make way for a $50-million retail-hotel-entertainment complex that won preliminary approval this week from the City Council.

The latest version of Huntington Beach’s downtown redevelopment plan will preserve only the facade of Orange County’s oldest concert club, where Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Steve Martin and hundreds of other rock, folk, blues and comedy performers appeared over the past 25 years.

After the Golden Bear closed in February as part of the operators’ bankruptcy proceedings, the city responded to the public outcry against razing the building by placing a moratorium on its destruction.

The action was taken to allow further study into the possible historical significance of the structure and the feasibility of saving all or part of the 60-year-old building.

Destruction of the Golden Bear, however, may now come as early as next week, said Mike Adams, the city’s principal planner. A new demolition permit has been issued, but is “on hold” pending feedback from the property owner on issues the council has expressed concern over. But Adams said Thursday, “We could have that (response) in our hands tomorrow. They’ve essentially got the green light to take the building down.”

Doug Langevin, who has headed a Save the Bear effort, said Thursday he is organizing a citizens’ group to stave off destruction until a bid can be made to have the building registered as a state historical landmark.

But the revised redevelopment plan presented Monday to the City Council “doesn’t call for preserving the Golden Bear,” Adams said.

The building’s facade, however, is to be incorporated into the 80,000-square-foot project, which will include a 280-room hotel, 22 restaurants and other retail businesses, Adams said.

“We would rather see the facade saved than lose the whole building,” said Barbara Milcovich of the Huntington Beach Historical Society, which administered a historical survey of downtown buildings.

“I’m not one of those preservationists who insist on saving every stick and stone. You can’t,” Milcovich said. “But if we can save some of the city’s character, maybe we’ll accomplish something.”

Half of the new complex will be reserved for a six-to-eight-screen movie theater and some form of live entertainment, Adams said.

But there are no specific plans to revive the Golden Bear or include a new concert facility, said Larry Allen, who is in charge of developments for Phoenix-based Paragon Hotel Corp., the project’s developer.

Allen said live entertainment could range from lounge performers in the restaurants in the complex to specialty entertainment such as marching bands or mimes.

“There will be a number of rental opportunities available, so someone might come in and try that (a nightclub),” Allen said.

“What definition is given to live entertainment depends on the hotel operator. The marketplace will dictate that,” Councilman Jack Kelly said. “The council could make as many representations of our desires as we want, but we’re still dealing with a money world.”

The moratorium preventing the property owner from leveling the building has been lifted, and Adams said a new demolition permit has been issued to the owner, Huntington Pacifica Development Co.

The city is asking the company for responses on several issues in connection with the destruction of the Golden Bear.

“We were committed back in February to saving the building facade, and the owner will have to address that issue,” he said. “We also want to preserve the character that live entertainment brings to the downtown area, so he’ll have to tell us what plans he has for that.”

Adams also said that the developer will provide “full documentation on the (Golden Bear) building, in pictures and drawings, so that if the city desires at some point, it can be reconstructed.”

The plans approved by the council Monday probably will be refined before going to the Planning Commission and then to public hearings some time this summer, Adams said.