KEEP THE WOODBRIDGE VILLAGE CENTER, IRVINE!

Heath Farmer

/ #124 A Bad Business Decision

2014-10-01 23:45

PLEASE CONSIDER WHY THIS IS A BAD BUSINESS DECISION:

One of the greatest allurements of Irvine is its atmosphere. Over the years, both the City of Irvine and the Irvine Company have done an amazing job in promoting its atmosphere by executing a great symmetry between its residential properties and commercial properties–many commercial properties of which are used for public leisure. However, in the past few years, it appears that the Irvine Company has intently disregarded the people of Irvine's need and will for areas of leisure and have begun to focus on, not only nearly exclusively building more residential properties, but down-right replacing areas of leisure with residential properties. Already, the Irvine Company has demolished Wild Rivers, is about to end the lease for Verizon Wireless Amphitheater/Irvine Meadows, and now wants to do away with the beautiful, aesthetically pleasing Woodbridge Village Center, all in the effort to replace these attractions with residential properties.

Though it's only logical to use the Irvine Company's land and property in the most profitable manner, to replace some plots of land which many locals have strong emotional attachments to, like the Woodbridge Village Center, with housing is actually counterintuitive to the Irvine Company's overall profitability. This makes the people's homes feel like less of a home, and thus, the atmosphere is negatively altered, and thus, longtime residents/Irvine Company customers are repelled. Additionally, it contributes to the "bland" reputation that Irvine has unfortunately been developing amongst young people in recent years, and thus, dissuades new families from coming in and growing communities.

As a real estate company, there is nothing more offensive to your customers than to make home feel less like home. The Woodbridge Village Center is known by Irvine locals as a place where heart-warming memories are made with every visit - this setting is VERY unique compared to other shopping centers, as we all know. Replacing atmospheric areas of leisure with residential properties is a delicate balancing act, and unfortunately, this move just might be the one to push Irvine residents/The Irvine Company's customers over the edge.