An Artful Thumbs Down for Tower

With an election looming, about 35 people gathered Friday outside the Orange County High School for the Arts to urge Santa Ana residents to vote against a measure that would let the city’s most prominent developer construct the tallest building in the county just two blocks away.

After four years of debate, city voters will decide Tuesday whether Michael Harrah can build the 37-story One Broadway Plaza, an $86-million structure at 10th Street and Broadway.

The City Council approved the plan in July, but residents collected more than 14,000 signatures to force the special election. Harrah has raised $367,300 to support Measure A, while its opponents have collected less than $45,000.

Among the most vocal critics have been parents of OCHSA students. The area surrounding the school is zoned for buildings not exceeding three stories. The council, however, rezoned Harrah’s 4.32 acres to allow him to build the high-rise.

“We’re trying to let people know that there is dissent on this issue, and many parents and students don’t back it,” said Steven Viele, who protested along Broadway with his daughter Rachel, a student at OCHSA.

The arts school board has taken no position on the tower. Harrah sold the school its buildings.

Protesters said they worry about increased traffic from the 2,000 workers expected at One Broadway Plaza and the reopening of a portion of 10th Street that cuts through the campus.

The street was closed in 2002 after the City Council said students weren’t safe crossing it to get to classes. If the project is approved, the street would reopen and would generate an additional 6,000 vehicle trips daily in the area, according to the city’s environmental impact report.

Neither Harrah nor his representative returned calls seeking comment. Harrah’s campaign has sent mailers urging people to approve the measure, saying, “Join Us in Thanking President Bush for ... Continuing the Republican Revolution,” with a photograph of the president.

Red, white and blue “Vote Yes on A” signs and posters widely outnumber those against.

Harrah has said the project will reinvigorate Santa Ana’s economy. He has promised to fill most of the 512,000-square-foot building with a Fortune 500 communications company and to fill the balance with law firms.

Harrah owns 3 million square feet in more than 60 buildings in Santa Ana, including several office buildings of about 10 stories. He recently opened Original Mike’s, a restaurant on Main Street, and on June 1 he will open a 500-seat performing arts theater with, he says, a concert by Chicago.

Lee Kociela, a senior at the school, said he hadn’t decided how he will vote, but added, “If [Harrah] builds it with the same care and safety he built his restaurant, I don’t see a problem with it.”