New Wall Puts Preschool on Defensive

Though it may be a comfort to parents at a Costa Mesa preschool where two children died this spring, a protective playground wall has become a point of contention in the neighborhood.

Some neighbors of the Southcoast Early Childhood Learning Center on Magnolia Street complained to city officials in a meeting last week that the new brick-and-iron wall poses a traffic hazard by blocking motorists’ views around the corner.

“We knew it would be a potential problem by early June,” said neighbor Paul Wilbur.

The wall was built after a Cadillac crashed through a chain-link fence at the preschool in May and killed Sierra Soto, 4, and Brandon Wiener, 3. Four other children and a teacher were injured.

Steven Allen Abrams, 39, was charged with deliberately driving the car into the playground and faces murder charges that could lead to the death penalty.

Parents and community activists rallied, and a wall was built that inadvertently encroaches 4 inches onto public property, an alley shared with neighbors.

The wall borders the school on three sides and was built with an 80-ton concrete foundation. Labor and materials worth an estimated $50,000 were donated.

Since the beginning of construction, the wall has been controversial.

Some parents at the school wanted an opaque block wall that would hide the playground as well as shield it from runaway cars. Others worried that such a wall could inspire in some children a fear of the outside world or a false sense of safety.

Neighbors also had concerns.

Resident Howard Denghausen Jr. took his objections to City Hall, calling for a hearing to protest what he called “blocked vision” onto Santa Ana Avenue from the alley.

Denghausen also objected that by allowing the encroachment onto the alley, the city was giving public land “to a religious entity.”

After a hearing last week, Costa Mesa city manager Allan L. Roeder acknowledged that the wall was improperly built in the public right of way. He declared that the sight line past the preschool’s playground is sufficient but made suggestions to allay neighbors’ concerns.

In an eight-page letter to Denghausen, Roeder recommended restricting parking at the curbs around the school to improve the line of vision. The city has asked Edison Co. for better street lighting and is requiring the school to plant seven trees to compensate for the encroachment onto public land.

The school and its landlord, Lighthouse Coastal Community Church, “have every incentive and sincerely want to be good neighbors, just as do the residents,” Roeder wrote.

Teachers at the day-care center say that sniping over 4 inches of concrete wall is abominable after the deaths of two children.

But Wilbur, a neighbor, said no one wants to close the school or tear down the wall. Neighbors are frustrated by a history of what they see as inconsiderate behavior, he said.

“I’ve had to go out of my way for these people for the last two years” because of traffic generated by the school, he said. “It’s very inconsiderate. But if that’s the way they want to treat people, what can we do about it? Obviously, the city’s not on our side.”

Residents have until 5 p.m. Thursday to appeal Roeder’s decision to the City Council.