Wall at Preschool Spurs Complaints

A new wall around a playground where two children died when a driver crashed into the yard is a source of comfort to parents but a matter 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 dangerously blocks the view of drivers around the corner.

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

The wall was built after Steven Allen Abrams allegedly drove his Cadillac into the 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.

Parents and community activists rallied, and the wall was built around three sides of the school with an 80-ton foundation. Labor and materials worth an estimated $50,000 were donated.

Since the beginning, the wall has been controversial.

Some parents wanted a solid 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 the city, calling for a hearing to protest what he called “blocked vision” onto Santa Ana Avenue from the alley.

Denghausen also said that by allowing the wall to encroach four inches onto public property--an alley shared with neighbors--the city was giving public land “to a religious entity.”

After a hearing last week, Costa Mesa City Manager Allan Roeder acknowledged that the wall was improperly built on the public right of way. He said the sight line past the preschool’s playground is sufficient, but he made suggestions to allay neighbors’ concerns.

In an eight-page letter to Denghausen, Roeder recommended restricting parking at the curbs 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 inadvertent 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 four 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 merely frustrated by a history of what they see as inconsiderate behavior.

“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.