Ballet May Be Based Near Bowers Museum

The St. Joseph Ballet may find a new home alongside the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana’s museum district.

Under a proposal to be considered Monday, the ballet troupe for inner-city youths would loan $45,000 to the city’s Redevelopment Agency to buy two pieces of land at 19th and Main streets.

St. Joseph is interested in moving to the spot, according to a city report, although the agreement does not require the city to lease or resell the land to the troupe.

However, the city would have to repay the loan if the ballet troupe did not move into the space, said Susan Jones-Helper, downtown project manager.

The ballet troupe is in the Fiesta Marketplace in downtown Santa Ana.

The two parcels in the museum district are each 7,300 square feet, according to a city report.

One parcel contains apartments and shops while the other is vacant.

They are separated by another similarly sized parcel already owned by the redevelopment agency.

The three parcels combined would form the proposed home for the ballet.

The redevelopment agency has the power of eminent domain but Jones-Helper could not say whether the city would need to take such action in this case.

Once the city purchases the land, it could transfer ownership to the ballet company in exchange for not having to pay back the loan, according to Jones-Helper.

The City Council, acting as the Redevelopment Agency, will consider the agreement Monday at 6 p.m. in council chambers, 22 Civic Center Plaza.

Information: (714) 647-6520.