Out With Old Block, in With New

A block of decrepit, vacant 45-year-old homes with boarded-up windows, surrounded by dried shrubs and a chain-link fence, on the southeast corner of Canal Street and Heim Avenue in Orange is finally slated for a face lift.

The City Council happily gave the thumbs up last week to remove the long-standing eyesore of vacant and unkept houses to be replaced by 49 new single-family homes next year.

“It’s been something of a nuisance for the neighborhood for some time,” said Jack McGee, director of the community development department. “The neighborhood is glad to see it go. It will be a very positive addition to that particular part of town.”

McGee said the homes were individually bought from the former homeowners by a commercial developer who was interested in using the land to add to the Orange Mall, but the plans fell through and the property remained untouched.

The current developer, Greystone Homes Inc., was asked to change the residential development proposal twice before the council and community were satisfied with the plan. The original plan called for 117 condominiums, which was later altered to 78 condominiums but again rejected by the council.

Councilman Michael Alvarez said he was pleased to see the final proposal.

“I appreciate the time Greystone has taken to rework the project,” he said. “We all [the council] seem pleased, and that doesn’t happen too often.” The two-story homes will range from 1,650 to 2,050 square feet on parcels of land 2,800 to 4,300 square feet. A community swimming pool and restrooms would also be built.

Ron Martin, the pastor of St. Lutheran Church across the street from the site, said: “I have said all along that housing is a mistake in there. It was zoned commercial, and it would be best kept that way because there is commercial all around it. But I am glad to see them clean it up.”

Demolition of the old homes is scheduled to begin in January.

Marissa Espino can be reached at (714) 966-5879.