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Mother, son weigh Main Street future
Lynn and Mike Ruocco like their life in Old Towne but are open to change.
By AMY ANGELO YORBA LINDA STAR - October 13, 2005
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Lynn and Mike Ruocco are a mother and son duo who have been a mainstay of Main Street in Yorba Linda for more than 15 years.
Lynn Ruocco has run the Main Street Restaurant – serving customers every day, even most holidays, and specializing in Mexican and Italian food since 1989 – and her son has operated Mike’s Trims next door since May 1990.
The pair believe a facelift for Main Street would be a positive change.
“Redevelopment will be a good thing,” Lynn Ruocco said.
City officials have been shaping a vision for more than five years for boosting sales, while adding to the liveliness of the area in and around Main Street. The conceptual plan would add up to 200 homes and 170,000 square feet of commercial space.
Mike Ruocco said he is not opposed to the up to 88 homes in the strawberry fields, included in the initial land-use regulations.
“If you are going to put retail in, you have to have people,” he said.
Mike Ruocco rents the barber shop space from his mother.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
He was on a steering committee back in 2000 when architects Ron Cano and David Denton of Downtown Main Street Visions were guiding the city’s effort to create the Town Center Master Plan.
The steering committee, including Main Street merchants and some local residents, was formed to set priorities for Main Street and surrounding areas, such as the style for facades, parking options and a pedestrian bridge location.
The steering committee dissolved when Cano died in February 2003, Mike Ruocco said.
Michael Dieden of Creative Housing Associates came onto the scene in summer 2004. In January of 2005, Dieden, his partner Greg Brown of BH Urban Equities and Walter N. Marks entered into a nine-month exclusive negotiating agreement with the city to develop a proposal for the Town Center.
NEW EFFORTS
Dieden and his partner, Greg Brown, have formed Old Town Yorba Linda Partners and are focusing on the project’s Phase I, bordered by Lakeview Avenue, Lemon Drive, School and Arroyo streets, and Yorba Linda Boulevard. “The difference between Cano and Dieden, is that Cano wanted a list of what shopowners wanted, which were listed out, prioritized and community involvement and ideas went into effect,” Ruocco said. “A lot of ideas we were happy with went away when Cano died.
“Dieden says, ‘This is what we are doing, which ones do you like?’ ” he added.
Ruocco went to a couple of the Old Town Yorba Linda Partner meetings.
“But after all the original time and money away from work, I got tired. And now I don’t go anymore, now I just want something to happen – anything,” he said.
“Our job was to come in and put a fresh perspective and new energy into the city’s Master Plan,” Dieden said. “We made a considerable effort to study Main Street, preserve the historic buildings and connect Main Street with the new project.
“Our goal is to make sure the existing businesses on Main Street benefit from the new Old Town Project.”
Mike Ruocco believes many of the Main Street merchant are disillusioned with the development process and concerned about Main Street traditions, such as the Farmers Market held Saturday mornings in the parking lot next to Mike Trim’s.
Dieden’s concept plan calls for retail in the parking lot’s spot.
FRUSTRATION, QUESTIONS
“Where will the Farmers Market go?” both Lynn and Mike Ruocco want to know.
Mayor Keri Wilson said she is committed to preserving the history of Main Street.
“The farmers market is an important element to the community. And I promise we will find a place for the market as we redevelop the area,” Wilson said. “The market falls into the concept for the town: a central place for people to meet and come together.” The Ruoccos expressed frustration that for years, council members have run for office using Main Street as part of their platform, claiming they would revitalize the street – and then don’t come back to help.
Main Street Restaurant has held election fundraisers for Ken Ryan, Mark Schwing and Gene Wisner – all who won council election.
“This is a lucky place,” Lynn Ruocco said.
“The only thing we have ever seen is pictures (of revamped buildings),” Mike Ruocco said. “However, this is the furthest they have gone; maybe something will happen this time.” They believe Dieden’s plan captures urban development, not their Main Street. Lynn Ruocco has a vision of a cobblestone street, the awning of her restaurant stretching out to the curb, with tables outside on the sidewalk, where her patrons could sit.
Meanwhile, she intends to stay and will not remodel her buildings.
“I don’t have a mortgage, and I don’t want a mortgage,” she said. “However, if the city wants to give me a low-interest-rate loan, that might help.”
Mike Ruocco likened the high-end retail and restaurants Dieden talks about to South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa.
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