Plans for the county of Orange’s proposed park in Tustin, to be developed with the North Hanger – the huge former-blimp hanger at the former Marine Corps Air Station, Tustin – as the centerpiece, have been unveiled.
The 85-acre park will provide spaces for outdoor events; ball fields; a giant lawn where children can run and an occasional dirigible can land; a historic walking path that will celebrate the area’s history; a forested area with picnic tables; and perhaps a water polo and ice hockey complex.
At the center will be the 1,100-foot-long hanger with its seven acres of floor space providing for trade shows, film shoots, sports events, conventions, and even space for operation of radio-controlled airplanes.
The most recent estimate for cost of the park is $69 million. Construction could begin in mid-2014 with completion by early 2016. Landscape architect is Hargreaves Associates, San Francisco, with architecture by LPA, Irvine.
No plans have yet been developed for the South Hanger, which is owned by the city of Tustin.
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Hotels in Orange County have shaken the economic recession and are improving occupancy and rates, according to hotel gurus PFK Consulting. At last report, occupancy of Orange County hotels was 77.6%, compared with 74.1% a year earlier. Anaheim’s convention and tourism hotel occupancy is even higher, at 79.2%. Looking at hotels which charge $200 per night or more, occupancy is at 82.8% against 71.3% a year ago – that’s an increase of 11.5%.
Orange County hotel rates rose to an average of $156 per night, up from $143.55 a year ago.
