By Kathy Lee Scott

Garden Grove Journal

Although the overall response from attendees at two community meetings was positive, several affected business owners and nearby residents expressed doubts about a proposed Brookhurst Triangle development.

The Garden Grove City Council will vote on a conceptual plan for the almost 14-acre site at its next meeting on Tuesday.

A conceptual plan is just that, according to Karl Hill, planning manager for the Community Development Department. “Ideally, we’d like to see 100 percent of it built.”

The city hired  Jerde Partnership to design a project that included both residences and retail spaces. They came up with 800 dwelling units and 200,000 square feet of commercial and office space. The architects designed a 23-story tower for the housing units, all of which would be for sale.

“This adds to the economic feasibility of the project,” Hill said.

In 2006, Urban-Pacific Builders of Long Beach signed an agreement with the city to develop its vision of the Brookhurst Triangle. However, the declining housing market led the builders to include rental properties among the for-sale units, which the city did not want, according to City Manager Matt Fertal.

“They also found it not economically feasible unless they used less expensive construction methods for the rentals,” he added. The city wanted the dwelling units over parking, which costs more.

“We terminated the agreement in 2007,” he said.

Then Irving, Texas-based JPI offered to develop the site, but with the difficult economic environment, scaled the project back too much. So the city again pulled out of the agreement.

Currently, no developer has stepped up to complete the project. So there is no time table on construction.

Terry Abdo, owner of German Auto Center, 10151 Garden Grove Blvd., unit M, has seen a decrease in his auto repair business because of the uncertainty. “Many customers are not having me do big jobs because I may not be here long,” he said.

He opened his shop in 1991, although several similar places have closed.

Stewart Trieu, who has operated Thanh Auto Service & Repair at 12911 Brookhurst St. for five years, likes his location. “I prefer if they make (the center) look better, update it,” he said. “It’s unfair that we would have to leave with no choice,” he added.

At the Garden Grove Auto Sales, 10151 Garden Grove Blvd., owner Danny Danh Vu said, “I do very good here and don’t want to move. Where else can I get a good deal on my rent?”

He opened his car lot in 1999 and has been “happy here.”

“I would need five or six months to find a new place,” he said.

Lifetime Furniture has been on the corner of Garden Grove Boulevard and Brookhurst Street for 20 years, according to Charlie Diep, owner. “It’s the best location, and I’d have to find another place,” he said.

Because there is no scheduled start date, Diep cannot move forward with plans to improve his store. “I’ll hang in there until they tell me to move,” he said.

A 24-year resident on Stanford Avenue, Karen Robertson has given up fighting the project. “I’d rather it be all commercial,” she said. “It’s a privacy issue for me. I’ve planted the bamboo in my backyard, and hope for the best.”

Beverly Singer worries about traffic. “We can’t get people to drive 25 miles per hour on Stanford as it is,” she said.

She has owned her home on Stanford Avenue since 1965 and wonders if the residents in the proposed residential tower will look into her back yard.

Eugenia Curlean on Susan Circle fears disruption to her quiet neighborhood. “People will be hanging out at night, causing traffic and chaos,” she said. “I like to see the development, but without nightclubs.”

A park or other daytime-use feature would be better for the resident who has lived in her home for 23 years.

The Petridis couple on Edieth Drive had divided opinions: Pam thought it was great to have more retail places. “There’s nothing around here but junk stores,” she said.

Tom felt “everything’s overbuilt already.”

Vincent Dinh on Groveview Street thought the project would be bad for his children. “It might decrease our home values and increase crime,” he said, although he confessed he knew little about the project. “I assume it’ll be bad,” he added.

According to Hill, a reputable developer will look into taking on the project. “They would finish it if they took it,” he said, declining to name the interested party.