NEWPORT BEACH : New Effort Planned to Sell People’s Park

Nearly two months after a city-sponsored auction drew a lower-than-expected bid on a strip of bay-front property known as People’s Park, city officials put the parcel back on the market.

This time, instead of handling the sale itself, the city will hire a real estate agency to seek offers, said Kenneth J. Delino, deputy city manager. Today is the last day for agents to submit bids to handle the sale of the property, at 43rd Street and River Avenue.

“We tried it with an auction, (and) we didn’t get a high enough bid . . . so we’ll let a realtor try,” Delino said.

In April, the city held an auction that attracted eight bids. Because the highest bid was $315,000--about $10,000 below the appraised value--the transaction required City Council approval.

Several council members expressed disappointment with the all-cash bid from Bob Sullivan, a local developer, and so the council let the offer expire.

So the sale of People’s Park is back to square one.

Except this time, if a realtor sells the land, the city will have to pay about $20,000 in commission, Delino said.

The city seized the land 53 years ago from its owner, who failed to pay taxes on it. The land, which has been cared for by a neighbor since the 1960s, now has two tall palm trees in its center and a concrete bulkhead that separates it from the bay. Some locals have used the property as a park. However, last November residents voted to authorize the sale of the land instead of turning it into a city park.

The council is expected to choose a realtor June 28.