Under a sunny sky with blustery wind this morning, Newport Beach city officials made speeches and used shiny shovels to break ground for a Civic Center project along Avocado Avenue.
“Special places like this do not happen without vision,” Mayor Keith Curry told a group of about 50 residents, city employees, civic leaders and members of the media on the construction site overlooking the Central Library with views of the Pacific Ocean. “This project reflects the vision of our entire community.”
The Civic Center project, which will include a new City Hall, a parking structure, parks and more, will be constructed in phases, with the City Council approving bids as the project moves forward. The first phase of work, which began this week, will remove 280,000 cubic yards of dirt; the work is expected to continue through the end of the year. Some of the dirt will be stored in piles for use in creating parks, said City Manager Dave Kiff.
Mayor Curry told the audience that the park elements (including a dog park) of the project will be an “oasis of the natural beauty” in an “increasingly urbanized area.”
“People will gather from all over to enjoy a great park that will encourage them to be contemplative and reflective about what a great community this is,” he said. “And yes, indeed, people are going to gather to walk their dogs as part of this project.”
After the mayor’s short speech, five City Council members posed for pictures holding shovels next to a huge construction vehicle. They each dug a bit of dirt, some of which the wind caught and blew through the air. Next, other project officials took turns posing for photos while other audience members noshed on fruit platters and cookies.
Some Corona del Mar neighbors had voted against moving City Hall to the site between MacArthur Boulevard and Avocado Avenue, but they said they were ready to move on and embrace the project.
“We obviously opposed it,” said Barry Allen, who lives nearby. “But we worked with the design committee, we worked with the City Council, and I think it’s going to be a good project.”
The project will cost about $120 million, but that number could fluctuate depending on bids, Curry said.
To watch Curry’s speech at the ceremony, click here.
