NEWPORT BEACH

As one of the city’s last pieces of open space, the 13-acre plot at the corner of Avocado Avenue and San Miguel Drive--next to Central Library--is a hot commodity. Representatives of competing interests came together earlier this month as the City Council discussed the Newport Village site. The city has accepted it as open space from the Irvine Co.

Councilman Tod Ridgeway suggested revisiting the idea of an affordable senior housing complex, proposed by the Irvine Co. but later scrapped. H. Ross Miller, on behalf of Friends of the OASIS Senior Center, said there are seniors in the city in need of affordable places to live.

But Councilman Tom Thomson would like to see a central park that would include about 800 feet of untouched open space and about 560 feet of a bluff-top park for picnics and sunset viewing. The plan also calls for about 100 extra library parking spaces and a Greek-style stone amphitheater and lecture pit.

Yet another group is looking at the possibility of a cultural annex to house an auditorium, small gallery and reception hall.