Sweet Orange

I have written about the evolving development of high- and mid-rise living in the Irvine Business Complex (IBC) and have been meaning to write more about this type of development. A recent post by Erica Chavez at the O.C. Register’s Irvine Homes blog has given me the nudge to get around to writing this post. So, before I go any further, thanks to Erica for her interesting post—and the nudge.

The post gives the details and some interesting links for the ongoing design tours that are occurring at the Astoria at Central Park West, one of the new IBC high-rise developments. As Erica points out the tours will continue through May 22, and the proceeds will benefit the Orange County Performing Arts Center. If you are interested in urban living and/or design, check out Erica’s post (Design tour offers sneak preview at Irvine’s newest high-rise).

Now here is where the nudge comes in. Some who left comments on the post had some harsh words about this development. My take is that Orange County is currently urban as well as suburban; however, some have trouble accepting that all development in Orange County is not going to be of the traditional suburban vintage. However, circumstances have changed since our suburban heyday, and our development criteria needs to progress with these changes. Our population has grown, so we don’t have the wide-open spaces of the past for housing developments. In addition, today we have more empty nesters and young professionals who want the advantages of urban living.

However, let me make it clear, I don’t think that suburban homes should be done away with. They should stay a big part of the mix. I just think that circumstances have changed and a need for a more diverse housing mix currently exists.

Tomorrow: my criticism of the IBC development

For more information on the IBC, see “The Housing Numbers for the Irvine Business Complex: Irvine’s Evolving, Mixed-Use Urban Center.”

GRAPHIC COURTESY ASTORIA