Comments on: The Aerie Project: When Neighbors Collide

By: Dave Lamb

Dave Lamb — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:12:20 +0000

It was great to see the Aerie project passing the Planning Commission and on to the City Council. The developer has worked very hard with the neighborhood, and the community to make this project a great part of the entry to Newport Harbor. It is a beautiful property and will enhance Newport. Well done Rick Julian for your tenacity to get this project where it is today. I hope the City Council approves the project forthwith!

By: Peggie Fariss

Peggie Fariss — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:24:49 +0000

I’ve lived in Corona del Mar for more than 30 years and have seen a lot of changes to the texture and composition of the residential areas in that time. It has been and continues to be a great place to live. I am in FULL SUPPORT of the Aerie project. It is a jewel of a project and one that will enhance our community for decades to come.

By: John A. Michler

John A. Michler — Sun, 24 May 2009 02:40:49 +0000

As a former resident on Bayside cove I can asure you that this Aerie Project will be a substancial improvement to the harbor entry and the overall community of Corona Del Mar. The exising apartments are an eyesore and should have been replaced long ago. The fact that the bluff will be impacted is true, however, it is my oppinion that this projects represents a positive impact not a negative one!

I can not believe the opposition to this project being so duplicitus. All you have to do is look at the house next door, that looks like a bunch of white boxes stacked on top of themselves, to wonder who do these people think they are to complain about bluff face or bluff impacts. Their unsighly house is built from the top of the bluff all the way down to the water. these people live on the bluff from top to bottom!

I belive that the Aerie project is a beautiful addition to Newport Beach and will provide a wonderful architectural statement at the harbor enterance. It is a excellent replacement for the old China House which used to be the icon at the harbor entrance, but was removed in order to create two houses in place of one. China Cove was named after the fromer residence because of it architectural uniqueness.

I also find it incredible that people are so critical of the construction. Every home has to be or has been constructed and just because someone lives next door I don’t think it is just for them to complain about someone else wanting to upgrade the community and build a new house.

Lets remember that ther are 13 or 14 units on that site right now and the Aerie project is just 8 units. It’s time to let this projct go forward and stop this unjust delay and unwarrented opposition.

I say get the project aproved as soon as possilbe. It will create many jobs in at time when we need more private projects instead of the public projects that are being created through tax and spend economics. This project will add value to the community and create a positive economic benefit in the process.

By: Linda Martin

Linda Martin — Sat, 23 May 2009 06:08:46 +0000

Before this project goes any further, the City should require Mr. Julian to put up STORY POLES. When the public sees the actual dimension of this project, there will be absolutely NO QUESTION as to how “out of proportion” and “oversized” it is compared to the homes in the area.
I am an interior designer and can visualize the disproportionate size and scale that has been created which resembles a wart on the very prominent nose at the entrance to the bay. This project is extremely out of proportion with the rest of the properties surrounding it in its volume and design which is only matched by the Channel Reef Complex (built in 1962 and would never be approved today). The CLUP states: “New development… shall be subordinate to the character of its setting.”
We have a home in the 200 block of Carnation Avenue and on Balboa Island and if this extreme project passes, I can honestly say that “living on Newport Bay” will not be as desirable as it has been.

By: Ross and Ruth Roskamp

Ross and Ruth Roskamp — Fri, 22 May 2009 23:26:12 +0000

After attending the commission hearing on Thursday evening, one is compelled to ask those opposed to the Aerie project (residents, planners, or commissioners) why?. Do they believe that removing the current structure and replacing it with three single-family residences will result in less construction noise, shorter construction time, more carefully planned bluff protection, and greater set-back? Three buyers, three plans, three contractors, three construction periods could last a decade and greatly increase the possibility of accidental damage to the bluff face.

No one brings more integrity, sensitivity, or honorable character than Rick Julian, who has spent years reworking plans to appease neighbor’s and commissioner’s desires. While listening to those express their sometimes trivial opposition, it reminded me of Ayn Rand’s observation: “That some people’s desire for power over others, neutralzes their rational judgement”.

By: Jeffrey & Wendy Verdon

Jeffrey & Wendy Verdon — Fri, 22 May 2009 06:50:21 +0000

I have known the Julian’s both personally and professionally for over 25 years. You cannot find a couple with more integrity and a genuine concern for the well being of this community than Rick and Karen.

Rick and Karen are very succesful people. They are not developing this project to make a quick buck, but to call this their home.

Rick Julian has embraced this community, opened his heart and wallet to the betterment of CDM, has provided a forum to the neighbors to address any concerns about the project, and has tried to be a positive influence to the residents of CDM.

Rick and Karen Julian would be a wonderful addition to the neighborhoodand would be responsible stewards of this very special piece of CDM history, which is sorely needed,.

The continued attempts to interfere with the development of this project, after so much has been done to accomodate the neighbors and community, highlights how these objections conflict with the basic right to develop one’s own property. This project will remove an existing eye sore and replace it it with a very special well concieved addition to the community. If a few nieghbors with personal agendas are allowed to stand in the way of this much embraced project, where will this stop?

The project should be approved and allowed to proceed.

By: Tim Stephens

Tim Stephens — Fri, 22 May 2009 06:12:33 +0000

I fully support this project. As a resident and property owner in Corona Del Mar since 1975, and a neighbor of this proposal, I find AERIE to be innovative, creative, and an enhancement of our neighborhood. It will replace an eyesore with a beautiful development that benefits all. I do not understand the handful of those who oppose with lies and misleading comments. It seems that some members of our community are uninformed and simply want to deny others of their legal rights. In additon, the owners have bent over backwards to accommodate those with objections, to no avail. It is time to let this development proceed.

By: Proud CDM Resident

Proud CDM Resident — Fri, 22 May 2009 02:22:03 +0000

What is there to discuss. What’s currently there is a disgrace to the city. Residents selfish views of having to deal with dust and noise is ridiculous. Get over it! The Project is gonna happen and I welcome it!

By: Another CdM Resident

Another CdM Resident — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:30:06 +0000

As a resident living in close proximity to the proposed project I feel compelled to respond. I have been carefully watching the project from it’s inception. I have seen the plans and visited the site on numerous occasions and I totally support Aerie as it will be a beautiful addition to our neighborhood and the community. It is beyond me why there are a few individuals who are opposed to Aerie. While they say they are not against the site being developed, they are opposed to the haul route. Any development on that location will have to have trucks to haul, and would it not be better to have one developer with a finite number of trips rather than multiple developers? What is their real problem? Maybe they should get a life…

By: Scott and Leslie Bergey

Scott and Leslie Bergey — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:27:09 +0000

As a close neighbor to the Aerie Project, we fully support the Julians. They have done everything expected of them, and have tried to accommodate all affected residents within the scope of their design. We’ll be happy to see the “eye-sore” gone and the Julian’s settled in with their class-act development.