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Old 09-02-2014, 07:19 AM
 
115 posts, read 191,485 times
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Looking for opinions whether there is a Downtown Orange County. And if so where is it located - Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Anaheim, or Santa Ana?
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Old 09-02-2014, 08:56 AM
 
Location: Buena Park, Orange County, California
1,424 posts, read 2,488,540 times
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Santa Ana markets itself as that. Technically it is the county seat, so I guess it is as close as it gets. Otherwise, we have no such thing.

I think the South Coast area has good potential to turn into a downtown of sorts, as it is OC's current largest center of gravity.
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Old 09-02-2014, 09:44 AM
 
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"Downtown" usually refers to a part of a city, not an entire county, but I get your point.

Santa Ana is obviously the county seat; and also home to many courts/law offices, County of Orange offices, a few museums, the Artists Village, a science center, a zoo, etc.

Irvine leads in terms of jobs, and is marketed like crazy, but nothing else that is really unique to that city comes to mind.

Yes, Irvine's schools are good, but so are those of many South County areas; and the average University High graduate attends a mid to low tier college, not an ivy league school. Irvine is safe, but, according to C-D, less so than some South County cities.

Regarding the other cities listed, I am puzzled as to why one would even consider Costa Mesa, Anaheim, or Newport Beach to be in the running?

IMHO, Santa Ana is OC's hub, but not its downtown.

Last edited by pacific2; 09-02-2014 at 10:03 AM..
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Old 09-02-2014, 09:57 AM
 
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Just an aside, IMHO, given its prime coastal-close location, beautiful homes in a select few areas, the sky high cost of RE in Irvine & South County, and the factors I stated above, large investment groups will gentrify Santa Ana.

It won't be long before SA fills a void and becomes OC's cultural hub.

Last edited by pacific2; 09-02-2014 at 10:08 AM..
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Old 09-02-2014, 12:04 PM
 
699 posts, read 1,344,700 times
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Geographically, economically and practically - Irvine is OC's "downtown." Given OC is a series of suburbs, it's not a traditional downtown but on balance, it has more importance to OC than any other city. It houses our primary research institution, is central to the county, has more jobs per capita than any other OC city, has more mass transit and freeways converging there than anywhere else, etc.

In other words, it's the only city that exhibits the traits of a downtown.

Santa Ana is OC's historic downtown but does not have the jobs nor educational prowess that Irvine exhibits. Santa Ana technically houses the airport, but it's literally across the street from the Irvine border.
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Old 09-02-2014, 01:41 PM
 
531 posts, read 758,497 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fast Cat View Post
Looking for opinions whether there is a Downtown Orange County. And if so where is it located - Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Anaheim, or Santa Ana?
Looking for opinions whether there is a Downtown State of California. And if so where is it located...
Looking for opinions whether there is a Downtown USA. And if so where is it located...
Looking for opinions whether there is a Downtown Earth. And if so where is it located...

Really does not make much sense or logic....
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Old 09-02-2014, 03:20 PM
 
Location: Denver
9,963 posts, read 18,499,454 times
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This is like asking where is downtown San Mateo county? There are several.

This is what I like about major metro areas, even the counties surrounding LA or SF have towns that have their own distinct downtown character. OC doesn't need a single specific downtown.
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Old 09-02-2014, 06:56 PM
 
Location: Buena Park, Orange County, California
1,424 posts, read 2,488,540 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HSP1161 View Post
Geographically, economically and practically - Irvine is OC's "downtown." Given OC is a series of suburbs, it's not a traditional downtown but on balance, it has more importance to OC than any other city. It houses our primary research institution, is central to the county, has more jobs per capita than any other OC city, has more mass transit and freeways converging there than anywhere else, etc.

In other words, it's the only city that exhibits the traits of a downtown.

Santa Ana is OC's historic downtown but does not have the jobs nor educational prowess that Irvine exhibits. Santa Ana technically houses the airport, but it's literally across the street from the Irvine border.
Everything you said, BUT the bold text, is true. The bold part is easily Santa Ana. Try taking public transit in Irvine and then try the same in Santa Ana...you are talking a bus every 20 mins (minimum) versus a bus every hour in Irvine. Irvine is car centric, while a lot of Santa Ana can be done easily via a combination of public transportation + walking + cycling.

Also, the Orange Crush (as it is known), where the 5, 22 and 57 meet is on the Santa Ana/Orange/Anaheim borders - not Irvine. In addition to those, you also have the 55.

In terms of centers:
Anaheim is OC's main entertainment (tourist) center
Irvine its job/tech center
Newport Beach its financial center
Santa Ana its civic center

There is no one city that dominates the area in more than one of those sectors, no...not even Irvine.
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Old 09-02-2014, 07:35 PM
 
115 posts, read 191,485 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pacific2 View Post
"Downtown"Regarding the other cities listed, I am puzzled as to why one would even consider Costa Mesa, Anaheim, or Newport Beach to be in the running?

IMHO, Santa Ana is OC's hub, but not its downtown.
One could argue Costa Mesa based on office towers, South Coast Plaza, and performing arts center.

Anaheim is the county's most populous city. It contains the "Platinum Triangle", the confluence of the 5, 57, and 22 as well as center of much current and proposed commerce and entertainment activity.

Newport Beach is OC's most prestigious business address in terms commanding the highest lease rates for office space.
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Old 09-02-2014, 07:40 PM
 
115 posts, read 191,485 times
Reputation: 82
Quote:
Originally Posted by k81689 View Post
Looking for opinions whether there is a Downtown State of California. And if so where is it located...
Looking for opinions whether there is a Downtown USA. And if so where is it located...
Looking for opinions whether there is a Downtown Earth. And if so where is it located...

Really does not make much sense or logic....
I was motivated in asking this question based on a highly visible water tower adajacent to the 5 freeway with the painted message stating the Santa Ana is "Downtown Orange County"
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