By Eric Heinz
On Monday, the city’s Design Review Subcommittee, a supplemental branch of the Planning Commission, met to review plans for the Miramar Theater, now being called the Miramar Events Center.
The plans include renovating the old bowling alley to develop seven restaurant sites and the main theater to allow for a variety of events.
In order for the plans to go through, the owners of the Miramar need to obtain a cultural heritage use permit, a conditional use permit and a minor site plans permit.
There are also plans to increase the vegetation surrounding the old theater. Wayne Eggleston, a subcommittee member and Planning Commissioner, said the designs will return to the subcommittee for further review.
“The courtyard area needs more vegetation because initially it was going to be like Cedar Creek in San Juan Capistrano,” Eggleston said. “It’s going to be hot out there.”
Some of the plans include enclosing the front ticket office, adding ramps to the bowling alley entrance, elevation specs and possibly creating a sun roof over the former bowling alley.
Plans also have been made to repair the exterior of the facility.
“It’s following the ideas of a study that was done years before, except it doesn’t have any retail,” Eggleston said. “Retail is not, in my opinion, going to be very successful there, but other than that, they’ve followed the plan all the way through. It’s proceeding very well and smoothly at this point, and there’s always new suggestions and ways things can be done differently.”
According to city documents, the Miramar Theater was opened for the public in 1938. Its historic significance is seen as very important among groups such as the San Clemente Historical Society. It hasn’t been operational since 1992.
The plans for the Miramar Events Center will have to receive Planning Commission and City Council approval. Eggleston said he thinks the plans will come before Planning Commission by December or January. To view the full plans, click here.
thats wayne votes to persecute micro business because they carry a ladder on a truck
but coddles and dates the millionaires that have blighted our city for years
what a benedict arnold
whats it going to cost us this time
I wonder how long this project will be strung along, stalled, permitted and then just before some action happens we will see a new stipulation added that will make it impossible for the project to happen? It really would be nice to see something nice be done with the Miramar but after 37 years of blight we really shouldn’t get our hopes up.
Perfect spot for the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center
Now that the ownership dispute is over, which stalled any progress for such a long time, it will be interesting to see what becomes of this.
Given that Restaurants have a high failure rate not too hopeful this concept will be a business success.
Would have liked to see this venue updated with a tribute to its history. Something like an indoor skatepark with corporate sponsors like Vans has done elsewhere would have been really cool. It would have given the locals the additional skatepark they wanted and made the old Miramar more relevant and hip for the younger people.
these people are dead beats they pay architects and planners but cant afford a bucket of paint ?
the building has no power water or active sewer but affords us its blight
its not pick up kept up or cleaned up its condition of blight is for the extortion of public funds and properties at the expense of adjacent neighborhood property values
its parking is non existent and will cost us our neighborhood parking beach trail extension a community plaza and commuter center for their private wealth
i ask that a open contest of use of public lands be held