A project that was supposed to cost a mere fraction of what it actually ended up costing is completed. Newport Beach's new City Hall and Library officially are open and the public is invited on Saturday, May 4, 2013  to come check out the "campus" which includes a 16-acre park, more than a mile of trails and 17,000-square-foot expansion of the central library. How much did it really cost?

The final tally is adding up to over $130 million, chump change for the likes of commercial projects such as the $1 billion Wilshire Grand under construction in Los Angeles. Normally we really wouldn't care about stories like this--what some citizens perceive as the excesses of government and other think is perfectly grand. It was a series of events that got my friends and me curious enough to go check out the place.

1. Lindsay Lohan sprung herself from New York rehab and announced she's checking into Morningside in Newport Beach, a rehab facility where smoking is permitted. She didn't get permission to do so, according to the tabloids. But Newport Beach has always been a desirable place for high profile actors and athletes, including bad boy Dennis Rodman. Oh, it's also where the adult film star Jenna Jameson was arrested for battery last week.

2. We heard grumblings among some city employees in Newport that they would have preferred to stay in the humble beach digs on Balboa peninsula. That's what a few told us when they were packing and moving to the new place. Interesting.

3. When a suspicious package and fear of it being a bomb cleared out neighboring Huntington Beach City Hall last week, some HB city staff reportedly went over to Newport Beach to check out the new place.  HB is the poor neighbor, not in terms of size and budgets, but in per capita income.  

4.  Another nearby city's  reps checked out the Newport Beach City Hall and were amazed--that they spent around $8 million for their new city hall and police station, while Newport Beach spent around $130 million.

According to Newport Beach's mayor,  it's important to remember that it's six separate facilities. The assistant city manager says that  they have delivered such an awesome facility that he thinks there won't be any naysayers. If you want to see what all the fuss is about, head over to Newport Beach,  from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visitors can roam the grounds, taste samples donated by 22 Newport Beach Restaurant Assn. members and chime in on your thoughts.

 Fashion Island Shopping Center is next door to the New City Hall!

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