Portola Springs Construction Activity

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SoCal78_IHB

SoCal78_IHB

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I moved here to Portola Springs four months ago. Everyday I would peep out my little window and look at the construction equipment sitting idly by, no sight nor sound of progress on the park or shopping center lots. Well this week things have changed. Crews have started at 7 a.m. each day. I wonder if this is a sign that they have found enough knife-catchers in this community to warrant proceeding with development. They must mean business as they have dragged in a Port-a-Potty.
 
[quote author="SoCal78" date=1223506760]I moved here to Portola Springs four months ago. Everyday I would peep out my little window and look at the construction equipment sitting idly by, no sight nor sound of progress on the park or shopping center lots. Well this week things have changed. Crews have started at 7 a.m. each day. I wonder if this is a sign that they have found enough knife-catchers in this community to warrant proceeding with development. They must mean business as they have dragged in a Port-a-Potty.</blockquote>


This is good news as I will be moving to PS later this year. I don't think the construction activity is due sufficient knife catchers as TIC often builds retail centers far ahead of nearby home construction and the park is property of the City of Irvine that is not part of the PS development.
 
[quote author="High Gravity" date=1223518711]TIC often builds retail centers far ahead of nearby home construction</blockquote>


That's sure the truth in Orchard Hills. I was in that center on Saturday night on it was sad to see how little business Zovs and the other restaurants had... Golden Spoon was the only place with any material foot traffic.
 
To drum up more traffic to the Orchard Hills center, they've recently introduced outdoor music on Thursday evenings.

I've noticed some decent crowds, nothing extraordinary.

The restaurant next to Golden Spoon, Johnny?s of New York seems to be consistently busy.
 
[quote author="fumbling" date=1223526423]The new construction next to the gas station at OH will be a new McDonalds.</blockquote>


I was wondering what they're putting up next to Chevron.
 
[quote author="ipoplaya" date=1223520038][quote author="High Gravity" date=1223518711]TIC often builds retail centers far ahead of nearby home construction</blockquote>


That's sure the truth in Orchard Hills. I was in that center on Saturday night on it was sad to see how little business Zovs and the other restaurants had... Golden Spoon was the only place with any material foot traffic.</blockquote>


That is why i like to go to the pavillions at orchard hills - always stocked and no one is ever in there! The ralphs at woodbury isnt that busy either. I do check the dates on the relevant items to make sure they havent spoiled or are close to spoiling.
 
[quote author="SoCal78" date=1223506760]I moved here to Portola Springs four months ago. Everyday I would peep out my little window and look at the construction equipment sitting idly by, no sight nor sound of progress on the park or shopping center lots. Well this week things have changed. Crews have started at 7 a.m. each day. I wonder if this is a sign that they have found enough knife-catchers in this community to warrant proceeding with development. They must mean business as they have dragged in a Port-a-Potty.</blockquote>


I have heard that more the builders are bailing out on the Irvine Company. They are finishing off what land holdings they have already acquired and shutting down their operations. You are probably seeing the last bit of construction to happen for a while.
 
I agree, they are probably just finishing up on what land they have and are getting the hell out of there. No way they would put a new shopping center in near that ghost town. I do wonder what will happen to those HOA costs since they are going to be nowhere near the amount of homes they were planning to have at build out.
 
[quote author="SoCal78" date=1223506760]I moved here to Portola Springs four months ago. Everyday I would peep out my little window and look at the construction equipment sitting idly by, no sight nor sound of progress on the park or shopping center lots. Well this week things have changed. Crews have started at 7 a.m. each day. I wonder if this is a sign that they have found enough knife-catchers in this community to warrant proceeding with development. They must mean business as they have dragged in a Port-a-Potty.</blockquote>


Thanks for the information SoCal! Please keep us posted.
 
<blockquote>They must mean business as they have dragged in a Port-a-Potty.</blockquote>
Well, they'll need the port-a-potty for all the crap the salespeople will be dishing out.



"It's never been a better time to buy."

"Rates will never be this low again."

Oh, I could go on.



:coolhmm:
 
[quote author="ipoplaya" date=1223520038][quote author="High Gravity" date=1223518711]TIC often builds retail centers far ahead of nearby home construction</blockquote>


That's sure the truth in Orchard Hills. I was in that center on Saturday night on it was sad to see how little business Zovs and the other restaurants had... Golden Spoon was the only place with any material foot traffic.</blockquote>


The center is just weird like that. Last time I was at Zovs I spoke the manager about how business was. It was a Thursday night and they had a good night and the night before too, but he said that they are dead on the weekends. He said it was the total opposite of the Zovs in Tustin or NC. He also seemed a bit bitter that he was told by TIC that homes would have been built and people living there now when they originally signed the lease. He corrected me when I said I heard it was 2010 they will be building, and he said no... now it is 2011 and I wouldn't count on it. Pretty sad as I like Zovs and I hope they succeed.
 
[quote author="graphrix" date=1223555345]Pretty sad as I like Zovs and I hope they succeed.</blockquote>


They have the best rack of lamb in town, but at $35 al la carte? And the markup on thier wines?



It's a nice place but they aren't afraid to hold margin (aka gouge folks who don't know better).
 
Starting a couple weeks ago, seems like they are starting construction of the Orchard Hills school site above Settler's Park, with the sounds of construction activity and equipment firing up every morning also around 7am.
 
[quote author="no_vaseline" date=1223558298][quote author="graphrix" date=1223555345]Pretty sad as I like Zovs and I hope they succeed.</blockquote>


They have the best rack of lamb in town, but at $35 al la carte? And the markup on thier wines?



It's a nice place but they aren't afraid to hold margin (aka gouge folks who don't know better).</blockquote>


You are talking about the Zovs in Tustin. The one in OH is the bistro. Limited menu, with no rack of lamb. Their wine markup is on the high side but no worse than some other places. If you know your wine prices, then you know they markup some more than others, and reasonable prices can be found.



And... if you really want the best rack of lamb, then you need to call Rick over at <a href="http://blacksheepbistro.com/">Black Sheep Bistro</a> to see if it is on the specials. It is fantastic, and if it is not on the specials then he might make it if he has it (which he usually does).



If you are really craving lamb, then just order the Borrego, Borrego, Borrego.



http://blacksheepbistro.com/dinspecpics/bbborregoframed1.JPG



That is the best lamb dish ever. Divine, wonderful, yummy goodness that can only be had at Black Sheep. Yum!
 
[quote author="fumbling" date=1223560587]Starting a couple weeks ago, seems like they are starting construction of the Orchard Hills school site above Settler's Park, with the sounds of construction activity and equipment firing up every morning also around 7am.</blockquote>


That's just the new Orchard Hills School.
 
[quote author="24inIrvine" date=1223534009]I agree, they are probably just finishing up on what land they have and are getting the hell out of there. No way they would put a new shopping center in near that ghost town. I do wonder what will happen to those HOA costs since they are going to be nowhere near the amount of homes they were planning to have at build out.</blockquote>


Anyone who is in a Condo ownership where the builder has not built out is going to be seeing some huge HOA fees . The builder in the beginning subsidizes the HOA and usually by 3/4 of the way through the project it goes away as more phases are annexed. From that point till build out it usually drops a little more as all the condo owners are paying. If the builder only builds less than half you will see HOA dues in the 400 to 500 mark and add sprinkle that with foreclosures and you will see special assessments in the 1000's being assessed now and again on the owners just to keep the HOA solvent. I would not buy a condo from any builder unless the project is done.
 
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