Photo: Brandy Young
“My parents moved to Costa Mesa in 1949, so I guess you could say I’m a long-term resident. I live in the downtown area, just a block and a half from Triangle Square.
“I’ve seen Costa Mesa change a lot throughout my lifetime. There aren’t very many vacant lots anymore. You see a lot of stuff getting torn down and what’s being built in its place is usually much denser. For people who’ve been here their whole lives, it’s a sad thing to see happen. But that’s just the way things are nowadays.
“While I’m not thrilled about some of the denser projects, I can’t really blame people for wanting to live here. Costa Mesa is a stone’s throw away from the beach. You’re close to Disneyland and the mountains are only a couple hour’s drive. We’ve got a lot of infrastructure, great parks and the wonderful, cultural hub of South Coast Plaza right across the street from Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
“Costa Mesa is a great place to live and I know the younger generations just want to make their mark. But if I were to give one piece of advice, it would be to think. Think before you act. Think first, long and hard, before you get rid of something. Because you can’t so easily replace the history of a place once it’s gone for good.”
– Terry Shaw, V.P. of Programs, Costa Mesa Historical Society
