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Corona del Mar Today: Town houses to be built next to Gallo’s

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After 20 years of planning, the vacant space next to Gallo’s Italian Deli — long used for the selling of Christmas trees during the holidays — appears closer to becoming condominiums and office space.

Magdi Hanna, who owns the lots at 3900 and 3928 E. Coast Hwy. as well as several Gallo’s delis, said he hopes that groundbreaking will take place in March, with the project taking 12 to 18 months to complete.

Plans include construction of six detached town homes. Each unit will have a private elevator and views, and the complex will be built on top of a subterranean parking garage. The project also will add a second story for office space above the existing deli.

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Hanna said Gallo’s will be closed for up to three months during construction, but a food truck will be on site to sell made-to-order sandwiches.

He said that by next winter, don’t expect a Christmas tree lot there.

He’s already getting inquiries about the project.

“I’ve had some calls, strangely enough, for the office and the condos,” he said.

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CdM couple donates $500,000 to OCSA

A Corona del Mar couple has donated $500,000 to the Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana, according to a school announcement.

Julie and Doug Garn’s gift will “support the completion of” the school’s new 60,000-square-foot dance, music and science centers, which are expected to open in August 2015, the announcement said.

The school’s Jazz Studies Program will be named after the Garn family.

The Garn’s son, Styler Garn, graduated from the school in 2012, the announcement said.

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Offshore boat catches fire twice

A boat off Corona del Mar caught fire twice within about two hours Monday afternoon, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Harbor Patrol.

At 3:11 p.m., a caller reported smoke from a boat about a quarter mile offshore, records show. The fire, deemed electrical, was quickly extinguished, the department said, but Harbor Patrol responded and evacuated passengers as a precaution.

But while Harbor Patrol was towing the boat inside the harbor, it caught fire again.

Deputies put out the second fire on the 50-foot boat without incident, records indicated.

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Sunni versus Shia lecture at library

A discussion of the historic divide between Sunni and Shia Muslims will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. March 5 at the Newport Beach Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave.

Jack Miles, a professor of English and religious studies at UC Irvine and a senior fellow for religious affairs with the Pacific Council on International Policy, will lead the lecture. His writing has appeared in The Atlantic, the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and Boston Globe.

Seating is limited to 200. To register, visit https://www.nbplfoundation.org. At the door, tickets will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

The event is free with a $10 suggested donation at the door. Book sales and a signing will follow the program until 9 p.m.

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Jim Abbot addresses Harbor Day

Former Angels pitcher Jim Abbott spoke to Harbor Day School students recently.

Abbot, who was born without a right hand and went on to toss a no-hitter for the New York Yankees, spoke about resiliency and what it was like to have to find ways to accomplish basic tasks under such trying circumstances, according to a news release.

“I learned at an early age that you didn’t have to do things the same way as everyone else to do it well,” he told the students, according to the release.

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Rock removal is now complete

A pile of large rocks, stacked above the Little Corona del Mar beach tide pools since the early 1980s, have been removed.

“It’s finally done — 89 rocks all removed and no hill slippage,” said Jeremy Johnson, a Shore Cliffs homeowner who paid about $100,000 for the rocks to be removed.

Johnson and Jerrod Blandino agreed to remove the rocks as a condition for obtaining a coastal development permit for a new home.

A 3,530-square-foot, single-family home has been demolished, making way for a 12,364-square-foot, two-level, single-family home with a semi-subterranean basement and a 2,621-square-foot subterranean garage. The project will also include a 501-square-foot detached guest house.

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Chamber offers chance to mingle

The Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce will hold a Sunset Networking Mixer from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Boutique Real Estate offices, 3653 East Coast Hwy., according to an event announcement.

No reservations are required. The event is free for chamber members and $20 for guests. Refreshments will be provided.

Corona del Mar Today appears Sundays in the Daily Pilot. Read daily updates at coronadelmartoday.com.

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