37-Story Office Tower Would Bring Jobs but Worsen Traffic, Report Says

A proposed 37-story office tower in downtown Santa Ana would exacerbate traffic problems and literally cast a shadow over nearby residential areas, but it would also lend prestige to the city and bring jobs to the area, according to a long-awaited environmental report released this week.

One Broadway Plaza would cover an entire city block bounded by Washington Avenue, Sycamore Street, 10th Street and Broadway, and encompass 545,124 square feet of offices, shops and restaurants. The release of the environmental report will be followed by a 45-day review period and a Sept. 8 public hearing by the Planning Commission.

Developer Michael Harrah, head of an investors group pushing the project, was unavailable for comment Tuesday. He already owns or co-owns much of downtown Santa Ana, a mix of art galleries, restaurants, office buildings and a performing arts center totaling more than 2 million square feet.

Critics of the project pointed to the traffic problems that One Broadway Plaza would create. According to the report, the building would generate about 6,700 vehicle trips daily on streets already choked during the rush hours. Average daily trips on Main Street between 17th Street and Washington were estimated to increase to 38,583 by 2005 with the project and 36,710 without.

The report also noted that the 493-foot-tall building would contribute to the smog problem in the South Coast Air Basin, saying it will have both short-term and long-term effects on air quality because of the added vehicle traffic. In addition, One Broadway Plaza would put further pressure on the availability of housing in Santa Ana, as some office workers are expected to look for homes or apartments in the city, the report said. But the city is expected to eventually meet the demand, the report said.

The project is expected to create about 2,100 jobs and would be a landmark that would be the focal point of downtown Santa Ana, the report said. The office tower would include a world-class restaurant with a 360-degree view that would draw visitors to the city, while the building would attract professional tenants who would support local cultural and arts programs, the report said.

Jo Ann Ramirez, president of the Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society, said she is still reviewing the report but is already dissatisfied with some of the findings. Ramirez’s group has opposed the project almost since it was proposed in 1999 because it would require moving two or three historical buildings.

“The traffic is the main problem,” she said. “I didn’t see any mitigation in the report for the traffic congestion on downtown streets that this building will create. Traffic is already gridlocked there, and they haven’t really proposed anything to improve it. And in terms of aesthetics, well, there’s no mitigation for the shadow this monster will cast on surrounding homes.”