By ANDREW GOOD
OC Register Staff Writer

SAN CLEMENTE – The Miramar Theater has a new owner: Marc Spizzirri, who owns the Family Classic Car dealership in San Juan Capistrano.

Spizzirri said he paid $5.3 million for the property in the city's North Beach area and has plans to develop it. The property has been a point of contention in town, with residents debating its historical value. Escrow closed Oct. 5.

Spizzirri said he hopes to introduce a design to the city in the next year, but that it would be premature to speculate about what the development would include. For now, he will only say that it will involve demolishment of the bowling alley portion of the Miramar and the preservation of the rest "to the extent we can."

"I have a lot of different ideas, but nothing definitive yet," he said. "We're going to try to work with everybody to find something that would work. … We're getting a lot of phone calls about it, but we'll be respectful to the historic heritage of the property and restore it to its old luxury."

He said he's eyed the property for some time, and has read about the contentious issue surrounding proposed development for the site. On Oct. 4, a City Council vote not to list the vacant theater as a city landmark. Historical preservationists call it an icon of San Clemente's small town heritage; property rights advocates say it's an eyesore that should be torn down in place of new development, if the building's owners so choose.

While he hasn't defined his plans yet, Spizzirri added that he can't imagine there being opposition to it.

"I'm not looking for a battle," Spizzirri said. "I'm looking to develop it and bring it back to its former glory, and as for historical people, to be working with them rather than against them. Hopefully we can join together for the right alternative."
Spizzirri said he owns several developments nationwide, but declined to say what they were or where they were located.

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Andrew Good