Great Park
- Thread starter halfnote19_IHB
- Start date
NEW -> Contingent Buyer Assistance Program
the balloon looks just like the picture
zovall_IHB
New member
Woohoo! Anyone going?
momopi_IHB
New member
I'll drop by to have a look on Sat. The line to get on will probably be pretty long.
irvinesinglemom_IHB
New member
We'll definitely be there, but not to actually take a ride. Wayyyy too scary for my little guy. We'll just go to get an up-close look.
irvine123_IHB
New member
saw the orange 'ball" from freeway yesterday....one ugly thing...and Irvine just approved a $280 million street car / bus route to connect the great park to spectrum...I am not sure i understand the value...
Irvine Soul Brother_IHB
New member
That bus/rail thing seemed kind of sketchy to me too. . . maybe they're laying the (ideological) groundwork for a rail-only option. Irvine+good light rail= as close to utopia as you can get.
EvaLSeraphim_IHB
New member
My take is about the same as Mickadeit's (yes, hell is now freezing over).
But you have love this line: "This giant pumpkin is essentially the equivalent of floating a Mylar whale over an auto mall or crisscrossing spotlights in the night sky to lure the gullible to a discount rattan-and-wicker showroom. . . . (And how ironic that the Irvine Co. and the HOAs it created have spent literally decades codifying and scrupulously enforcing a rigid, world-copied code of conduct regarding all manner of aesthetics, including signage, only to have an out-of-town developer come in and plunk this massive rudderless orb smack in the middle of all that perfectly planned beige.)"
But you have love this line: "This giant pumpkin is essentially the equivalent of floating a Mylar whale over an auto mall or crisscrossing spotlights in the night sky to lure the gullible to a discount rattan-and-wicker showroom. . . . (And how ironic that the Irvine Co. and the HOAs it created have spent literally decades codifying and scrupulously enforcing a rigid, world-copied code of conduct regarding all manner of aesthetics, including signage, only to have an out-of-town developer come in and plunk this massive rudderless orb smack in the middle of all that perfectly planned beige.)"
Major Schadenfreude_IHB
New member
LA Times ran an article today on it.
The balloon pilot will make a 6 figure income. Four support staff will make approx. $90,000 per year.
How do you like those apples?
The balloon pilot will make a 6 figure income. Four support staff will make approx. $90,000 per year.
How do you like those apples?
EvaLSeraphim_IHB
New member
On no bid contracts at that.
buylowsellhigh_IHB
New member
No offense but I saw the rising orange ball from Sand Canyon today and it is ssssssooooooooo ugly!
I dont understand this thing at all! This is... pork belly spending, lol.
Since a builder is footing part of the cost, I'd be pissed if my HOA dues include a hot air balloon. Which it probably will if I live nearby.
I dont understand this thing at all! This is... pork belly spending, lol.
Since a builder is footing part of the cost, I'd be pissed if my HOA dues include a hot air balloon. Which it probably will if I live nearby.
graphrix_IHB
New member
Hey they need those high income jobs in order for them to buy the crappy Liarnar homes. Altough I am not sure with today's underwriting standards with a "Giant Orange Balloon Operator" making $120k a year would be believed.
momopi_IHB
New member
I wanna work as a giant floating balloon pilot and get paid $120k/year too!
muzie_IHB
New member
I went there at the "opening".
What I'm a bit puzzled by is the enormous estimated cost of the park: 1.1 billion$. To put it in perspective, if every Irvine resident paid for the Park out of pocket, it would come down to 5,000$ each. And a lot of the financing seems dependent on land development and resale of houses near the Park...
What I'm a bit puzzled by is the enormous estimated cost of the park: 1.1 billion$. To put it in perspective, if every Irvine resident paid for the Park out of pocket, it would come down to 5,000$ each. And a lot of the financing seems dependent on land development and resale of houses near the Park...
MojoJD_IHB
New member
So.... hows that great park coming along... 2+ years later? 
ABC123_IHB
New member
MojoJD said:So.... hows that great park coming along... 2+ years later?
the balloon looks just like the picture
Astute Observer_IHB
New member
Last time I looked, the balloon is faded due to UV ray, and they are talking about getting a replacement for it at the cost of a few hundred thousand dollars.
trip.threat_IHB
New member
Thought I saw it this weekend, now white.
MojoJD_IHB
New member
Yeah... but what about the progress of the park itself. I'm glad I didnt buy in portola springs. When we were looking there at bougainvillea, they REALLY sell you on the proximity to the great park on the coming boutique shops and museum. I almost started telling myself it might offset the obvious extra commute time.
Every time I hear about the park its how they are having more delays, downsizing the "greatness" of the park, and cutting out the ambitious/impressive aspects of the project. I recall one article from last year mentioning that the people running the show spent more of their funding on self-promotion than actual park construction in the fiscal year. Sad.
Every time I hear about the park its how they are having more delays, downsizing the "greatness" of the park, and cutting out the ambitious/impressive aspects of the project. I recall one article from last year mentioning that the people running the show spent more of their funding on self-promotion than actual park construction in the fiscal year. Sad.
roundcorners_IHB
New member
there is this nice small park now open to the public... and the ice rink is coming back... yes, the top of the balloon is completely white now, saw it very clearly on the 133...