I received an invitation to a party at the City Place condos over in north Santa Ana. Apparently the developer, Robert Bisno, has finally sold half of his condos, after over two years of attempts to get rid of these overpriced units.
Here is what the City Place invitation has to say:
With over half of the Lofts at City Place sold, it’s a great time to celebrate! Because of your interest in City Place we would love to extend this exclusive invitation to you! Please join us for food and drinks! This is also a great time to visit some of our newest loft boutique shops. Harvey’s, Hannah Bean, InStyle, Lucky Owl and Christopher James Interiors are just a few places you won’t want to miss as you stroll along City Place Drive. Spend the evening experiencing City Place…
All I can say is good luck getting rid of the rest of these units. Bisno might need more human signs before that happens (see picture above).
You would think that Bisno by now has figured out that there is not a market for luxury condos in Santa Ana. But his planned 33 story luxury condo tower is headed for the Santa Ana Planning Commission. Bisno gave over $40,000 to the recent Measure D campaign, whose sole purpose was to give Santa Ana Clowncilwoman Claudia Alvarez four more years on the Council. Even if Planning somehow does not roll over for Bisno, expect Alvarez, Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido, and Clowncilman Sal Tinajero to do Bisno’s bidding on the Santa Ana City Council, which can overrule the Planning Commission.
Will it be ethical for these Clowncilmembers to vote for the Bisno Tower even though all three of them were heavily involved in the Measure D campaign? You may recall that Pulido and Tinajero signed the Measure D ballot statement and Pulido appeared on many of the mailers for the deceitful measure, which ironically promised a Code of Conduct for elected and appointed officials. The alleged Code has yet to make its debut, but surely the Clowncilmembers are plotting to support Bisno’s Tower, which is quite unethical of them. Does anyone really think that Bisno would have given so much money to Measure D if the votes for his tower were not already in the bag? Don’t forget that the Measure D campaign was run out of Alvarez’ home!
The sad thing is that the Bisno Tower is going to absolutely ruin traffic in the Park Santiago neighborhood. Already it is very difficult to navigate Main St. during rush hour. Now I realize that Bisno is going to have a hell of a time selling the overpriced condos in his tower, but if he does somehow do so, traffic on Main St. is going to be a complete nightmare. And the shadow cast by the Bisno Tower will be a permanent reminder to the residents in that area of the unethical Clowncil we are all burdened with.
If you want to visit the City Place party this evening, it will be held at the City Place Loft Model, located at 115 City Place Drive, Santa Ana. The party will be tonight, Wednesday, April 9, from 5:30PM to 8:00PM. You call call 714-953-1353 if you want to RSVP. I imagine several of the Clowncil members will be there. It is believed that most of them frequently visit the McCormick & Schmick
Hey Art, Since you got an invite I think you should go and report back to O.J. readers. Take Thomas Gordon along. He is also good at doing on the spot intervies. Have fun!!!
For someone that hates the new project so much, you’re sure giving it alot of your blog space.
Hope you enjoy the party. I know no one else that got an invite
You are correct Art – traffic will be a nightmare.
Especially after One Broadway Plaza is built. We will need to ride bicycles from First St. to La Veta (in City of Orange) – and from the 55 to Bristol.
This clowncil has done ZERO traffic flow planning for these developements.
Nice job clowncil !!
Art…who hurt you as a child? Why do you insist on being such a negative voice for the City of Santa Ana. I live in this great city and currently do not know one resident who doesn’t love the addition of City Place to our city. If you had any love at all for this city…you would work to make it a better place…not just slam everything that happens here.
Why don’t you just go live in Irvine?
Today where the real estate market is in the toilet IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY, here in little Santa Ana A guy has sold half of his really expensive condos. He sounds like a genius. I’d like to meet him, maybe I’ll go tonite.
Get a grip, Art. NOTHING is selling anywhere. It is indeed a big deal. We’re pretty lucky in this town that in today’s day and age people still have the huevos to develop residential real estate AND are selling it.
When is Mother’s Market opening?? I can’t wait!!!
I’m sure it’s just a matter of time before these new property owners default on their loans and won’t be able to pay their property taxes. Just another prediction for good old SanTana.
People are defaulting on loans and not paying property taxes nationwide.
Unfortunately, City Place has yet to be fully developed. As you may recall Pulido put the pull on Bisno to erect a 37-story building on the site.
Pulido’s height challenged stature continues to plague the city.
Brother Art.
We have a long standing policy at the Cutting Edge. If you plan to attend this party in an official capacity as a reporter we would not indulge in any of their food and beverages. We grab a bite afterward on our own credit cards.
Brother Larry,
Not to worry. I went home first to cook dinner for my family. I am having a nice salad and then I am going to walk over there and see what I can turn up…
#4,
The point is that we don’t need luxury condos in our town. If anything we could use affordable ones.
Art:
You are a NIMBY of the worst sort. You try to diguise your vitriol for this project by claiming it should provide affordable housing even though your real issue is that Bisno supported Measure D. Last I heard, Bisno has free speech just like you.
This City needs housing of all types available to people of varing means. I’m sure you know that, but you’ll take any shot at this development and hope it sticks.
#12,
Wrong. I have been against the City Place condos from the start. Our city does NOT need overpriced luxury condos. Our people DO need affordable condos.
I met a young lady the other day who grew up here but had to move to the inland empire when she got married. She could not afford housing in our city. Now she works at the Santa Ana Business Bank and has to make an awful commute ever day. We are losing thousands of young sharp people like her because Pulido wants to import rich white people to displace the working Latinos who are already here.
Show me that our residents are clamoring for luxury condos. The fact is, it took Bisno two years to get rid of half his City Place units. It may take ten more to dump the rest.
BTW, I ended up missing the City Place party. Too bad! It would have been fun to photograph the long faces. There is no way Bisno and his crowd are very happy to be stuck with half their units. Any bets on how cheap they will have to go to get rid of the rest?
Art:
Every heard of the Chicano/Latino middle class? They like nice housing, just like white people.
And, there is more affordable housing here than any other local city and with prices falling, these homes will become more affordable.
The days are gone when trades people could afford that good life. That’s the way it is, and local government isn’t going to solve the housing affordability crisis.
Vibrant cities have a mixture of all income types. Why should Santa Ana be any different?