Developement plans for the Disneyland area

[Tom Morrow]

Anaheim Grand Parkway & Garden Walk




The Platinum Triangle: A less-grand parkway (http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/communities/anaheim/platinumtriangle/article_730761.php)
Orange Country Register
http://www.visionsfantastic.com/forum/gallery/files/15227-GrandParkway.jpgCity officials made a flashy presentation of their vision to connect the Disneyland Resort area and the county's future downtown with a Grand Parkway. The parkway would slice through neighborhoods and Disney property between Angel Stadium and the Anaheim Convention Center. Just four months later, plans for the Grand Parkway aren't looking so grand. City officials appear to be downsizing the idea of an eight-lane boulevard, stymied partly by developers who complain that the parkway could take too much expensive land.




GardenWalk planners aiming for ambience (http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/money/abox/article_1032187.php)
Orange Country Register
Anaheim planners approve a high-end outdoor mall and hotel complex near Disneyland

http://www.visionsfantastic.com/forum/gallery/files/15227-GardenWalk.jpg

Conventioneers and tourists soon could lodge in a trendy boutique hotel, a snazzy four-star venue or a family-oriented time share in the heart of an outdoor mall near Disneyland. The Anaheim Planning Commission paved the way for the GardenWalk complex to add more hotel and retail space to the long-planned entertainment center. Now an empty lot boarded by a colorful fence, the 20.3-acre GardenWalk is targeted to start construction in May.
Anaheim Garden Walk (http://www.anaheimgardenwalk.com)




Sent from Ezra (http://www.visionsfantastic.com/forum/member.php?u=9791)

[Tom Morrow]

New plans for Harbor Boulevard

With Casino Idea a Bust,
Garden Grove Explores Other Ways to Cash In on Prime Property (http://ktla.trb.com/news/local/la-me-casino3jul03,0,7974645.story?coll=ktla-newslocal-1)
KTLA - WB - (source: LA Times)
Prospects for a Las Vegas-style hotel-casino in Garden Grove appear all but dead, but that doesn't mean the 40-acre site near Disneyland isn't still a hot property. While city officials weigh their options for the 40 acres, they are also studying the feasibility of a theme park on a 139-acre site at Harbor Boulevard and Westminster Avenue.




Sent from Ezra (http://www.visionsfantastic.com/forum/member.php?u=9791) from a tip by NaviMap (http://www.visionsfantastic.com/forum/member.php?u=18574)

[Tom Morrow]

Anaheim: big developement in resort district

Big development in resort (http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/money/homepage/article_1277812.php)
Orange County Register - Orange County, CA
Shopping centers, upscale restaurants and hotels going up in downtown Anaheim
Ritzy steakhouses, spacious ballrooms and higher-end hotels are infusing the Anaheim Resort with leisure options for convention-goers and theme-park enthusiasts. A big-time building boom is under way by the Anaheim Convention Center and Disney parks as a record number of tourists visit five years after 9/11 spurred a travel slump. The success of Disneyland's 50th anniversary celebration, as well as nearby Platinum Triangle projects where new residents will soon live, have inspired developers to build more than in the early part of the decade. "The city of Anaheim is moving into a new era and moving into a first-tier convention destination," said Tim Price, director of sales and marketing for Marriott Anaheim, which is building ballroom and meeting space. The city agreed to help two projects. The recently opened Doubletree Hotel is set to receive a 50 percent rebate on bed taxes up to about $7 million for 15 years. Anaheim GardenWalk, an outdoor mall and hotel complex, would get rebates of 50 percent on sales taxes up to $11.5 million and bed taxes up to $7 million on the first hotel, if needed.

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[Tom Morrow]

Loft living begins in Platinum Triangle


Loft living begins in Platinum Triangle (http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/money/homepage/article_1543701.php)
Residents start moving into the first housing project in the area turning into an urban region
Orange County Register - CA
A Disney employee, a college student and an engaged couple are the first to embark on the city's experiment in urban living. Such residents were among the first to pick up keys this month for condominiums in Stadium Lofts, the pioneer housing complex in the Platinum Triangle – an area the city is trying to turn into a downtown-like setting. Eateries on the ground floor are set to launch this week, including El Torito Grill, which opens Monday. Construction on the 390-unit project began in November 2004, shortly after the City Council rezoned the industrial area to allow for residential and retail projects near Angel Stadium. Now, almost 8,000 homes are planned. The first seven sales were finalized Jan. 5. By the end of today ,residents are expected to occupy about 50 homes.
continue reading (http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/money/homepage/article_1543701.php)

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[Tom Morrow]

Anaheim Marriott Suites to go condo


Garden Grove planners OK hotel-condo conversion (http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_1549510.php)
Orange County Register - CA

The Planning Commission on Thursday unanimously approved a proposal by the Anaheim Marriott Suites hotel, in Garden Grove, to convert its 371 units into hotel condominiums. Hotel condominiums are flourishing in other states such as Florida and Hawaii, said developer Mark Hyatt. The concept is similar to a time share, where buyers own the unit as a condominium, but use it only four weeks a year. The rest of the year, the suites function as hotel rooms that can be rented out.

Planning Commissioner Ron Pierce said he believes the city stands to benefit from the project because of money from bed tax and property taxes. "The hotel rooms are also occupied this way," he said. "We don't want any businesses to die in Garden Grove."

The Marriott Suites hotel, blocks away from Disneyland, is part of a city-designated resort area on Harbor Boulevard where city officials envision high-end hotels, shops and, eventually, two theme parks.

The matter is expected to go before the City Council soon.



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[Tom Morrow]

Platinum Triangle may increase density caps


Platinum Triangle might expand (http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/communities/anaheim/article_1589588.php)
Orange County Register - CA

The Platinum Triangle may become even more dense with office towers, condos and shops as the city attempts to create a regional hub for jobs and housing. Under proposed caps being studied, office space could more than double and the number of homes could increase by about 75 percent ? or up to 16,591 units ? in the already burgeoning area around Angel Stadium.

The City Council earlier this month commissioned a $160,000 study to determine whether the city should increase the amount of development allowed in the 820-acre area that is turning into a downtown-like setting. The council could consider the new limits in September.
complete article (http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/communities/anaheim/article_1589588.php)


Sent from Ezra (http://www.visionsfantastic.com/forum/z/Ezra/)

[Tom Morrow]

$201M Construction Financing for GardenWalk


http://www.visionsfantastic.com/forum/gallery/files/15227-GardenWalk.jpg


$210M Construction Financing for Anaheim Mixed-Use (http://www.commercialpropertynews.com/cpn/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=10035 57083)
Commercial Property News
Anaheim Garden Walk, a mixed-use complex planned near the city's Disneyland theme park, has received $210 million in construction financing. The development (pictured) will include 440,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and entertainment space a transportation center, a 3,200-space parking facility, 387 timeshare units and three hotels. The development will take advantage of its positioning between Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure theme park and a soon to be built third park.
complete article (http://www.commercialpropertynews.com/cpn/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=10035 57083)



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[Executioner]

OK for one, what will this do to Disney's revenue? 2, what will this 3rd park be a Disney park? 3, does Disney like this move? Are they not going to get hit by this? How about the shops in DTD? How will that affect them? Also will this negatively affect Knott's? They are close enough but far enough away to where it will be a devestation to them.

[iamthesco245]

why dont they just reserve that space for expanding Disneyland & California Adventure?

[Ezra]

It's on the other side of Harbor Blvd where all those hotels are.

[NaviMap]

This project is not a Disney-owned project.

It was planned and designed as a shopping/dining/entertainment corridor to the Disneyland Resort's proposed Third Theme Park (which its plans have been silenced since 2001-02).

Its entrances do not connect to Harbor Blvd and follow a north/south path away from the theme parks. It is also a 2/3 mi walk from the theme park entrances to this development. The 2 ends of this project do not connect to streets heavily used by pedestrians. The entrances would not be clearly visible from Harbor Blvd (which most pedestrians from the Disneyland Resort will walk along).

Downtown Disney and the restaurants along Harbor Blvd are very convenient for park guests since they are right outside the entrance plaza. The venues along Harbor Blvd would feel more of an impact by the development (if any) than Downtown Disney. Other shopping/entertainment venues within driving distance of the Anaheim Resort would possibly be more affected such as the Block at Orange and MainPlace in Santa Ana (but the development of the urbanized Platnium Triangle may negate the loss).

Actually, I think this project may stuggle (at least the shopping and dining part of the project) if Disney does no progress on what they plan to do with the land/Cast Member parking lot/strawberry field south of the property.

[Ezra]

Actually, I think this project may stuggle if Disney does no progress on what they plan to do with the land/Cast Member parking lot/strawberry field south of the property.Which they won't do until the city decides once and for all not to sieze a swath of land that cuts right through Disney's strawberry fields to extend Gene Autry way all the way to the Convention Center (the Grand Parkway project)

[NaviMap]

Which they won't do until the city decides once and for all not to sieze a swath of land that cuts right through Disney's strawberry fields to extend Gene Autry way all the way to the Convention Center (the Grand Parkway project)The reason why the city has not acted upon this project is because there was confusion between developers in the area, the planning department, and the City Council on whether it was visionary concept or an actual proposal being pursued which was cleared up during a city council meeting on Sep 25, 2005:

Anaheim City Council Minutes 09/27/05 (http://www.anaheim.net/search.asp?q=cache:hTMf7Lg2eNY:http://www.anaheim.net/docs_agend/questys_pub/MG6980/AS7019/AS7022/AI7211/DO7364/1.DOC+third+gate+development+grand+parkw ay&access=p&client=my_collection&proxystylesheet=my_collection&output=xml_no_dtd&site=my_collection)
(Scroll down about 3/4 to 4/5 down the page, where third gate development & grand parkway are highlighted)

As far as the City of Anaheim getting involved extending Gene Autry Way to the Convention Center (cutting through the Disney property).

According to Anaheim city council minutes,

The presentation of the Grand Parkway was brought May 2005 with comprehensive detail and publications from the city indicated they were working with a planning group to start the project.

When the planning department was later questioned by the city council about its proposal for the Existing Gene Autry Way and the concept of the Grand Parkway (Sept 2005): "He explained that vision of the future was only one of what could be many possible future concepts for this region and that the City was not undertaking any actions to study or implement that vision of the larger grand parkway nor was it probable the City would look to implement a grand parkway at any time in the future"
Later one of the councilmembers asked the planning departmentif we were going to have a Gene Autry Way with four lanes planned for the future and was it a vision or already on the drawing board. She responded the area between Haster and Harbor (the large area of Disney owned land) was on the General Plan for extension and would be developed in connection with any development of the property explaining that some years ago when Disney was contemplating a third gate development, they were thinking of requesting an amendment to the plan to either eliminate or redefine it, but the property owner would need to let the City know what development plans they were interested in.So basically, this grand parkway was just a concept and just one of the many options for future development in the area. However, the city has already been pursuing proposals for the widening of the existing Gene Autry Way that are far from the concept of the Grand Parkway.

Extending Gene Autry Way to Harbor has been on the City's general plan for quite some time, but the city has actually taken no action nor plans to pursue any in the future. It basically will depend on what Disney plans to do with the property.

[Tom Morrow]

Developer picked for Angel Stadium area plot


http://www.visionsfantastic.com/forum/gallery/files/15227-Archstone-Smith.jpg


Developer picked for stadium-area plot (http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/anaheimhills/article_1690472.php)
Anaheim officials are starting exclusive negotiations
with Archstone-Smith for the city-owned land
Orange County Register - CA

Anaheim The developer that offered the most money won the right to make a deal to buy a city-owned plot next to Angel Stadium. Archstone-Smith and Hines Interests' proposal beat out two other developers' plans to build downtown-style complexes, including hotels, boutiques and homes, on a 51.4-acre plot.

The City Council unanimously chose Tuesday to pursue a contract with Archstone. "It was an overall package that was demonstrably impressive over all the others," Mayor Curt Pringle said.

The proposal includes:

About 750 homes.
Hotel and retail uses.
2.4 million square feet of office space.
58,000 jobs including people working in offices and stores.

The Angels baseball team's lease currently forbids homes on the land and sets restrictions on parking and other uses. Archstone officials have met with the Angels, but the talks were preliminary.
complete article (http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/anaheimhills/article_1690472.php)



Sent from Ezra (http://www.visionsfantastic.com/forum/z/Ezra/)

[Tom Morrow]

Gene Autry Way extension



Gene Autry Way may get money (http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/article_1693627.php)
OCTA will consider $27 million for the anaheim road extension to go through mobile home park into resort district
Orange County Register - CA

Construction on a long-delayed road extension through a controversial Anaheim Resort site may start soon with expected new funds. The Orange County Transportation Authority board today is set to approve $27 million in federal funds for the Gene Autry Way bridge and extension, which would slice through two mobile home parks, apartments and a few businesses into the resort. Gene Autry Way currently starts at Angel Stadium and ends at I-5.

The road would go over the freeway and run along the site of a proposed housing development, the subject of a major fight between the city and Disney-area businesses. However, the road has not been brought up much during talks.
complete article (http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/article_1693627.php)




Funds for Autry bridge ok'd (http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/anaheim/article_1694324.php)
OCTA approves $27 million for bridge through Platinum Triangle
Orange County Register - CA
Orange County Transportation Authority officials Monday approved $27 million in federal funds for the Gene Autry Way bridge and extension. The $63-million project will cut through mobile home parks, apartments and businesses. Construction could start late next year. Gene Autry Way currently starts at Angel Stadium and ends at I-5. In addition to the expected $27 million, the city of Anaheim plans to collect fees from developers in the Platinum Triangle to pay for part of the road.





Sent from Ezra (http://www.visionsfantastic.com/forum/z/Ezra/)

[Tom Morrow]

The Gene Autry Experience development



Platinum Triangle project OK'd (http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/anaheim/article_1759514.php)
A 1,200-home development including a pedestrian bridge goes to the City Council
Orange County Register - CA

The second-largest development in the Platinum Triangle, including an office tower with a pedestrian bridge, is heading to the transforming urban neighborhood by Angel Stadium.

On Monday, the Planning Commission approved, 6-0, the Gene Autry Experience development with 1,208 homes, including a street-front park lined with a retail strip and buildings up to 300 feet high. Commissioner Cecilia Flores was absent. The City Council also must consider the development.

"It needs to be the place in Anaheim that no one else has seen," said urban planner Ken Ryan, a principal of KTGY Group Inc.

The Gene Autry Experience would sit across the street from the biggest Platinum Triangle project ? Lennar Corp.'s A-Town with 2,681 homes under construction. Currently, the Catch Restaurant and businesses in industrial buildings are on the 17.5-acre site.

"You are setting the standard higher for future developments," Commissioner Joseph Karaki said to the developer.
complete article (http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/anaheim/article_1759514.php)




Sent from Ezra (http://www.visionsfantastic.com/forum/z/Ezra/)

[Tom Morrow]

Indian tribe pitches Garden Grove casino




Indian tribe pitches Garden Grove casino (http://www.ksby.com/Global/story.asp?S=6853587)
KSBY 6 News - CA

An Indian tribe wants to build a Las Vegas-style casino complex in Orange County. The Gabrielino-Tongva Tribe wants to build in Garden Grove because there's less competition there. The plan submitted to the city this week calls for two casinos with 7,500 slot machines, two hotels and a 10,000-seat stadium.

The tribe says the project would create 10,000 permanent jobs in Orange County. To sweeten the pot, the tribe is promising to pay the city $5 billion over 30 years, spend $100 million to upgrade infra-structure, and provide a college scholarship for every high school graduate in the city.

The idea has some critics. For one thing, the Gabrielino tribe has about 2,000 members but it doesn't have federal recognition or any federal land. Cheryl Schmit of the gambling watchdog group Stand Up for California says the lack of federal land means the tribe would have to promote a statewide ballot measure allowing it to build the casinos. But a tribal official says the tribe only needs a bill in the state Legislature and approval by the governor.





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