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Tustin Corridor: Incredible Hulk statue gets to stay
July 9th, 2009, 7:35 pm · 8 Comments · posted by EUGENE W. FIELDS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
In June, gym owner Bryson Miller bought the 9-foot-tall, 80-pound statue made out of polyurethane foam from a company that made 240 “The Incredible Hulk” statues as decorations for theaters showing the 2008 movie, starring Edward Norton.
Miller paid $7,000 for the statue, featuring the Hulk in boxing shorts and gloves and now with the LA Boxing logo, and put it on a trailer in the gym parking lot.
Less than two days later, Miller said a code-enforcement officer made him remove the statue.
“They said he didn’t conform with any of the codes,” Miller said. “He was too big, he was too wide and he was too green.” 
Miller said his father suggested taking his story to the press.
Less than a week after a story ran in The Orange County Register and on television, Miller said Mayor Carolyn Cavecche stopped by the gym to arrange a meeting between him and city officials.
“She was making every point to get me in there,” Miller said. “She was really cool.”
City spokesman Paul Sitkoff said Miller fulfilled certain conditions to allow the statue to be displayed.
“The Hulk has been placed on a trailer, moves around and is no longer permanently affixed outside the storefront,” Sitkoff said. “It is supposed to be stored in back at night. As long as this is the case, it is no longer in violation.”
Miller said his business has tripled in the three weeks the Hulk has stood outside his business.
“Before I got him, I averaged 30 memberships a month,” Miller said. “Last month, I got 87.”
Cavecche said she was trying to promote business in the city.
“I felt it was an issue for a local businessman who was trying to do well for the city of Orange,” Cavecche said. “I’m thrilled that it’s working out for him.”
Note: LA Boxing did not receive a variance to display the statue - City officials said the gym owner simply brought the display standards to code.
Follow the Orange City Watch blog on Twitter at http://twitter.com/orangecitywatch.
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Thank you, Orange, for making the right decision in this case. I had lost a little faith in my hometown.
As we have seen before: Mayor Carolyn Caveccche pressures business owner for campaign contribution, then intervenes with city staff. Same old song and dance.
The Mayor is very responsive to city issues. I had a major issue and received a call back within 2 hours, and she provided her home and cell number to discuss the issue. I was able to obtain pertinent information to help me understand, and she insured the local police was very proactive in examining the issue. This is what local officials should do, and if it gets her reelected, all the better.
about time they came to their senses.
I think the gym owner told the mayor she wouldn’t like him when he’s angry!
There’s good reasons for Codes; if one does his own thing, then everyone else does there own, then it gets out of hand.
It was good that the city came out to compromise. I hate it when public servants act like dictators.
Never understood why code enforcement got a bee up their butt over this statue. It’s on private property, creative, and is not a sign.
If someone wants to crack down on something objectionable, go after the innumerable sign-wavers who obstruct public sidewalks, distract motorists from their driving, and add to visual clutter. Besides aesthetics, it’s a public safety issue.
Unlike the Hulk statue, the signs they’re waving around are on public property.
Hi rdelight -
The city actually does has an ordinance against sign-twirlers. They are required to stand a specific distance away from the streets and if memory serves me - can only be on the property of the business they’re advertising for.
You can call code enforcement at 714-844-7200 or 714-744-7220 for more specific