City Place, Ponte Vista----No Comparison

This is a followup to the previous post and it was created after I took a tour of the City Place area, and its surrounding area.

The first photo is a photo of the actual loft listed for sale in the previous post.

To imagine how wide/narrow the units is, think of a Jeep Grand Cherokee and the width of the unit equals about the length of the Jeep. I didn't get a photo of the Jeep parked right outside the unit, I regret that, but only a very little bit.
So, after I took a photo of the unit, I turned right around and took a wider shot of what is close to the unit at City Place.
The photo above is just the start of how and why City Place and Ponte Vista cannot be compared to each other in any way.

If you look closely in the background, you will see the Macy's sign. You may also see the McCormick and Schmick's sign in the foreground. There is also one of those 'fru-fru' upscale yogurt places that are popping up in more trendy areas.

City Place was developed by Bob Bisno. it is much smaller than what Bob wants to do at Ponte Vista and City Place is so different to Ponte Vista, no real comparisons should be attempted.

I have to admit, I still don't quite understand the concept of the lofts lining Memory Lane and City Place Drive, and the few fronting Main Street.

It looks like someone who wants to open a small business, buys a unit that they can both work in and live in.

Some of the lofts have the first-floor fronts opening up on to the sidewalk, so there is a larger walk-in area.

I don't know what happens if the business fails or grows so big that a bigger space is needed.

We seem to have a few samples of the types of lofts at City Place, on the first floor of our Centre Street Lofts.

Oh well.

I think City Place can be thought of as "smart growth".

• It is between the I5 and 22 Freeways, on Main Street and the 57 is very close by.
• Westfield's Main Place Mall, complete with a J.C. Penny's, Macy's, Nordstrom's and regular type mall shops is directly across Main Street from City Place, well within walking distance.
• The Orange County Children's Hospital is about a 5-10 minute walk north on Main Street.
• A Barnes and Noble is about a three-minute walk away.
• There are eateries, a small grocery store, and other retail just across the parking lot
• There is a home accessory store, an "Original Hems", a financial advisor, and other businesses already operating within City Place
• City Place has at least two signalized intersections to access the west and south sides of the project.
• There is also a back road that has signals to allow residents access from the east in more than one location
• It seems to be very close to the downtown area of Orange.
• It seems to be easily accessible via multiple roads
• Every single unit has its own garage

Now, contrast these features with what is proposed for Ponte Vista at San Pedro and one can easily find that there is no way to really fairly compare the two developments.

Of course, there are still very few units occupied at City Place, which seems to have had units become available back in 2007.

There is still some construction going on at the residential/business side and the retail along Main Street.

I think I would be more impressed with City Place if I knew more about the work/living spaces in the lofts. I saw one unit already for sale that looked like the business in it had already gone out of business.

I saw an upscale clothing store about ready to open and there was a grand opening of a store that looks like it pampers to upscale new parents.

What City Place has, Ponte Vista would have none of, even if Bob were to magically get his way.

I think Bob should return to building retail, commercial or work/living spaces and leave the, almost completely residential projects to more qualified developers.

Bob may have got it correct at City Place, but that in no way means he has much of a chance of getting it correct at Ponte Vista.