I don’t think this is what developer Robert Bisno had in mind when he plunked the overpriced City Place condos and townhomes over on Main St., across from Santa Ana’s Mainplace Mall.
Just a few minutes ago, as I drove west on Memory Lane towards Main St., I passed an empty SAPD police cruiser with its flashers on. It was parked somewhat askew, on the right shoulder. I slowed down and lo and behold the lone officer was standing in front of his car with his gun drawn and pointed at a guy in a white t-shirt who was lying down on the grass in front of some apartments, by the look of it, located perhaps a block or two east of the City Place. He had his hands on his head, with his fingers interlaced. He looked like he was familiar with the process.
I could not believe it! What a sight to behold. I wonder what the yuppies on the way to their City Place townhomes thought about this as they drove by? Sure enough, three more police cruisers and a motorbike cop sped by me, as they drove east on Memory Lane to the incident, as I continued to Main St.
What the heck was Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido thinking when he asked Bisno to plop the City Place in Santa Ana? Keep in mind that the proposed Bisno 33 story luxury condo tower is supposed to go up right by where I saw the cop and his suspect today. And this neighborhood is supposed to be the GOOD part of Santa Ana!
Welcome to City Place. I hope you folks survive the experience!
gentrification.
Santiago Park across the street is famous for boy meets boy hook ups. Maybe this guy got caught playing hide the salami with cops looking.
Thank you for another uplifting commentary on the city you supposedly love. This could have been anywhere in the OC or LA County – but you chose to highlight it as a Santa ana deficiency. You are a jerk.
Art,
You’re pathetic. A photo of a SWAT team? Like there’s a correlation between the photo and your observation? What were YOU doing in Santiago park Art?
#4,
As I stated in my post, I was driving home. I often use Memory Lane in order to avoid a stretch of Main St., which is congested at rush hour. It will only get worse if Bisno gets to build his tower.
I wonder if Bisno cut a deal with Pudrido to get more police into the City Place area? Thomas Gordon is going to pull the police report on the incident I described. We will find out why four cruisers and one motorbike were summoned.
Art, I don’t get you.
You stated in your reply that there’s too much traffic, but you’re against the street car plan for Santa Ana.
You’ve said before that we don’t need more police, but we obviously need them to control the “non-yuppies” running wild in this town.
You’re against condo developments in Santa Ana, but the tax dollars generated from these mid-upper class residents will help build parks not to mention attract businesses that will generate serious tax revenue that we all know this city needs.
But let’s forget about all of the good that comes from developments like City Place and focus on one guy getting arrested near the City Place.
Ben, its not that Art and I are necessarily opposed to “condo development”, but what I think both of us share is condo OVERDEVELOPMENT, especially in areas that can’t handle those weapons of mass development that seem to be cropping up all over the place.
Will the “mid-upper class” homebuyers who will live at City Place and Bob’s planned tower venture into most commercial establishments to purchase goods and services in Santa Ana, or will they take their beemers to Costa Mesa or some other area they may feel more comfortable in?
Overdevelopment of Orange County from the time I worked on so many streets throughout most of the northern and central county make it someplace that seems more out of control, traffic-wise.
Adding more misery (tower) to company (City Place)seems to doom Santa Ana to even more transportation troubles and other infrastructure issues.
At least Santa Ana residents aren’t under the gun of eminent domain condemnation Bob wants in Baldwin Park…….at least for now.
the whole art district is a joke, just ask the long time residents of the logan neighborhood, who are being run out & with them a piece of history.
I for one thought it was sad day when i saw a starbucks & an american apparel store in DT.
“The whole art district is a joke…”
Hmm…wonder how this discussion jumped across town to the Logan neighborhood.
But since we’re on the topic, no one is running our neighbors out of town. Sorry Charlie. I’ve personally spoken with Logan residents and business owners and they welcome the new blood.
M Richards, I’ve read some of your other writings and I know there is nothing I can say nor would I try to change your mind about Bisno and anything he’s involved with.
I guess we’ll just have to see whether or not the city is better off 10 years from now, huh?