CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
March 21, 2007 | David Reyes, Times Staff Writer
When the work crews started pulling down the old buildings and barracks at the closed El Toro Marine base, they expected to find old appliances, faucets and hardware that, if they were lucky, might be worth salvaging. But the unexpected turned up: a painting of the flag-raising at Iwo Jima, mess hall recipes calling for pounds of butter for shortbread cookies, faded photographs and street signs bearing the names of fabled military battles such as Inchon and Midway.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
March 5, 2007 | David Reyes, Times Staff Writer
Orange County's Great Park, envisioned as a dramatic landscape of man-made lakes, streams and a rugged canyon in the middle of suburbia, will cost more than $1 billion to create. The new estimate, revealed during a park board study session last week, reflects costs of the park's updated design. The original estimate was far less than $1 billion. The facility, which will be built on the former El Toro Marine Base, would be one of the largest urban parks in the nation.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
May 20, 2006 | H.G. Reza, Times Staff Writer
It will be taps for El Toro Marine Corps Air Station when the curious and the sentimental gather today for a final salute to the base that was closely identified with Orange County for more than half a century. Tours will be available between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. for those who want to take a last look before the base is demolished. About 2,000 people, including former Marines once stationed there, are expected at the free event.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
November 1, 2005 | Jean O. Pasco, Times Staff Writer
Four of the five Irvine City Council members leave today for an all-expense-paid, nine-day trip to Barcelona, Paris and New York City as part of their role in planning a 1,000-acre park at the former El Toro Marine base. The cost of the trip is still being calculated, but the itinerary includes two nights at the five-star Grand Marina Hotel in Barcelona. Traveling are seven members of the Orange County Great Park Corp.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
July 13, 2005 | Daniel Yi, Times Staff Writer
The closed El Toro Marine base officially became private property Tuesday as Lennar Corp., which won the 3,700-acre former military airfield in an auction in February, closed escrow with the Navy. The nation's third largest home builder also signed a development agreement with the city of Irvine, which annexed the base in 2003 and named its redevelopment plan the Orange County Great Park.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
June 24, 2005 | Daniel Yi, Times Staff Writer
A Colorado recycling company was chosen Thursday to demolish the runways at the former El Toro Marine base, marking yet another step toward redevelopment of the 3,700-acre facility. Recycled Materials Co. -- based in Arvada, Colo. -- will soon begin negotiations with the Orange County Great Park Corp., a nonprofit firm created by Irvine to oversee public-use construction at the former Marine base, city officials said.