South Coast Metro
Encyclopedia
South Coast Metro is an area in Orange County, California
loosely defined by its proximity to South Coast Plaza
and John Wayne Airport
, and comprising the surrounding portions of Santa Ana
, Costa Mesa
, Irvine
, and Newport Beach
. It lies completely within the 714
area code. Used often in real estate listings, it distinguishes the more cosmopolitan environment of the South Coast area from the surrounding suburbs. This area of the Santa Ana/Costa Mesa line is a mix of upper-middle and middle-class communities, while the racial makeup is diverse.
When used in residential addresses, the South Coast Metro moniker is generally restricted to apartment complexes, and often is not used on actual mailing addresses. While there is no official zip code for South Coast Metro, a freeway sign signaling the area does exist on the southbound Costa Mesa (55) Freeway at MacArthur.
In addition to South Coast Plaza, South Coast Metro encompasses the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and South Coast Repertory
theater company. The South Coast Repertory building was expanded and renovated in 2002, with the design done by architect César Pelli
. Pelli also designed the Plaza Tower, opened in 1992, and Segerstrom Hall, the newest addition to the Performing Arts Center which opened in 2006.
Several prominent outdoor sculptures and other works of arts are displayed in the area around these buildings by artists such as Isamu Noguchi
, Jean Dubuffet
, Henry Moore
, Richard Serra
and others. This sub-section of South Coast Metro is sometimes referred to as the Costa Mesa Theater and Arts District.
A satellite of the Orange County Museum of Art
, called The Orange Lounge, is located inside South Coast Plaza. Recently, plans have been drawn to move the main museum, currently located in Newport Beach, to a high-rise building in South Coast Metro also containing apartments.
connectors.
Public transportation is provided by bus lines operated by the Orange County Transportation Authority
. South Coast plaza is currently the most-served location in Orange County, connected by 12 bus routes.
South Coast Metro was to be served by several stations of the abandoned CenterLine light rail project, including an underground station at South Coast Plaza. As a replacement, a bus rapid transit
line connecting the area to nearby John Wayne Airport
, downtown Santa Ana and Anaheim is being considered for implementation in the future.
and economic downturn.
Two high-rise residential towers, dubbed Skyline at Macarthur Place, were recently constructed in the northeast corner of South Coast Metro by developer Skyline OC. The 25-story towers are marketed as high-end luxury condominiums, and are now the tallest buildings in Orange County by number of floors.
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
loosely defined by its proximity to South Coast Plaza
South Coast Plaza
South Coast Plaza is an upscale-luxury shopping center in Costa Mesa, California, USA, in Orange County. The largest mall in California, its sales of over 1.5 billion are highest in the United States...
and John Wayne Airport
John Wayne Airport
John Wayne Airport is an airport in an unincorporated area in Orange County, California, with its mailing address in the city of Santa Ana, which is also the county seat, hence the International Air Transport Association airport code. The main entrance to the airport is off of MacArthur Blvd in...
, and comprising the surrounding portions of Santa Ana
Santa Ana, California
Santa Ana is the county seat and second most populous city in Orange County, California, and with a population of 324,528 at the 2010 census, Santa Ana is the 57th-most populous city in the United States....
, Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa, California
Costa Mesa is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 109,960 at the 2010 census. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to a primarily suburban and "edge" city with an economy based on retail, commerce, and light...
, Irvine
Irvine, California
Irvine is a suburban incorporated city in Orange County, California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated on December 28, 1971, the city has a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 census. However, the California...
, and Newport Beach
Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
. It lies completely within the 714
Area code 714
North American area codes 657 and 714 are Californian telephone area codes which encompass northern Orange County, a portion of Los Angeles County, and portions of Chino Hills in San Bernardino County...
area code. Used often in real estate listings, it distinguishes the more cosmopolitan environment of the South Coast area from the surrounding suburbs. This area of the Santa Ana/Costa Mesa line is a mix of upper-middle and middle-class communities, while the racial makeup is diverse.
Geography
South Coast Metro's boundaries are generally defined as:- North: Segerstrom
- South: San Diego FreewayInterstate 405 (California)Interstate 405 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in Southern California. It is a bypass of Interstate 5, running along the western areas of the Greater Los Angeles Area from Irvine in the south to near San Fernando in the north...
- West: Fairview Rd.
- East: Costa Mesa FreewayCalifornia State Route 55State Route 55 is an 18-mile long north–south highway in the U.S. state of California. The portion of the route built to freeway standards is known as the Costa Mesa Freeway...
When used in residential addresses, the South Coast Metro moniker is generally restricted to apartment complexes, and often is not used on actual mailing addresses. While there is no official zip code for South Coast Metro, a freeway sign signaling the area does exist on the southbound Costa Mesa (55) Freeway at MacArthur.
Metropolitan environment
The South Coast Metro area includes its namesake, South Coast Plaza, along with approximately twenty high-rise office buildings, hotels and residences. This Includes the 21-story Center Tower, the tallest building in Orange County at 285 feet. The area also includes additional retail shopping, entertainment, and several upscale restaurants.In addition to South Coast Plaza, South Coast Metro encompasses the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and South Coast Repertory
South Coast Repertory
South Coast Repertory is a professional theatre company located in Costa Mesa, California.Tony Award-winning South Coast Repertory, founded in 1964 by David Emmes and Martin Benson and now under the leadership of Artistic Director Marc Masterson and Managing Director Paula Tomei, is widely...
theater company. The South Coast Repertory building was expanded and renovated in 2002, with the design done by architect César Pelli
César Pelli
César Pelli is an Argentine architect known for designing some of the world's tallest buildings and other major urban landmarks. In 1991, the American Institute of Architects listed Pelli among the ten most influential living American architects...
. Pelli also designed the Plaza Tower, opened in 1992, and Segerstrom Hall, the newest addition to the Performing Arts Center which opened in 2006.
Several prominent outdoor sculptures and other works of arts are displayed in the area around these buildings by artists such as Isamu Noguchi
Isamu Noguchi
was a prominent Japanese American artist and landscape architect whose artistic career spanned six decades, from the 1920s onward. Known for his sculpture and public works, Noguchi also designed stage sets for various Martha Graham productions, and several mass-produced lamps and furniture pieces,...
, Jean Dubuffet
Jean Dubuffet
Jean Philippe Arthur Dubuffet was a French painter and sculptor. His idealistic approach to aesthetics embraced so called "low art" and eschewed traditional standards of beauty in favor of what he believed to be a more authentic and humanistic approach to image-making.-Life and work:Dubuffet was...
, Henry Moore
Henry Moore
Henry Spencer Moore OM CH FBA was an English sculptor and artist. He was best known for his semi-abstract monumental bronze sculptures which are located around the world as public works of art....
, Richard Serra
Richard Serra
Richard Serra is an American minimalist sculptor and video artist known for working with large-scale assemblies of sheet metal. Serra was involved in the Process Art Movement.-Early life and education:...
and others. This sub-section of South Coast Metro is sometimes referred to as the Costa Mesa Theater and Arts District.
A satellite of the Orange County Museum of Art
Orange County Museum of Art
The Orange County Museum of Art is a museum located in Newport Beach, California.The museum's collection comprises more than 3,000 objects, with a concentration on the art of California from the early 20th century to present...
, called The Orange Lounge, is located inside South Coast Plaza. Recently, plans have been drawn to move the main museum, currently located in Newport Beach, to a high-rise building in South Coast Metro also containing apartments.
Transportation
South Coast Metro is served by the San Diego (I-405), Costa Mesa (SR-55), and Corona Del Mar (SR-73) freeways. During rush hour, the 405-55 interchange becomes one of the most congested in the United States, with an average daily traffic volume of 433,000 cars. The congestion has worsened in recent years despite an upgrade completed in 2005 which included the addition of carpool laneHigh-occupancy vehicle lane
In transportation engineering and transportation planning, a high-occupancy vehicle lane is a lane reserved for vehicles with a driver and one or more passengers...
connectors.
Public transportation is provided by bus lines operated by the Orange County Transportation Authority
Orange County Transportation Authority
The Orange County Transportation Authority is the public sector transportation planning body and mass transit service provider for Orange County, California. Its ancestor agencies include not only the prior Orange County Transit District but also such diverse entities as the Pacific Electric...
. South Coast plaza is currently the most-served location in Orange County, connected by 12 bus routes.
South Coast Metro was to be served by several stations of the abandoned CenterLine light rail project, including an underground station at South Coast Plaza. As a replacement, a bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit
Bus rapid transit is a term applied to a variety of public transportation systems using buses to provide faster, more efficient service than an ordinary bus line. Often this is achieved by making improvements to existing infrastructure, vehicles and scheduling...
line connecting the area to nearby John Wayne Airport
John Wayne Airport
John Wayne Airport is an airport in an unincorporated area in Orange County, California, with its mailing address in the city of Santa Ana, which is also the county seat, hence the International Air Transport Association airport code. The main entrance to the airport is off of MacArthur Blvd in...
, downtown Santa Ana and Anaheim is being considered for implementation in the future.
Future expansion
Both the cities of Costa Mesa and Santa Ana have plans for additional development in the South Coast Metro area, which over a dozen high-rise buildings currently planned or approved. However, many of the residential projects, along with others in Orange County, have been delayed in light of the ongoing subprime mortgage crisisSubprime mortgage crisis
The U.S. subprime mortgage crisis was one of the first indicators of the late-2000s financial crisis, characterized by a rise in subprime mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures, and the resulting decline of securities backed by said mortgages....
and economic downturn.
Two high-rise residential towers, dubbed Skyline at Macarthur Place, were recently constructed in the northeast corner of South Coast Metro by developer Skyline OC. The 25-story towers are marketed as high-end luxury condominiums, and are now the tallest buildings in Orange County by number of floors.
External links
- http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=33.688782,-117.88991&spn=0.033423,0.058365&t=h&z=14&om=1 Satellite View of South Coast Metro, Google Maps