Did you see it tonight?

USC Graduate Students Present Winning Design for 2nd and PCH in Long Beach 

A couple of weeks ago I placed an item on the council agenda which was approved unanimously, to invite the winners of the 2013 National Association for Industrial and Office Parks Southern California Real Estate Challenge for the Seaport Marina Hotel site at 2nd and PCH. 

The USC students made their presentation tonight and it was outstanding. Creative. Out of the box thinking that we need in Long Beach to bring business and tax revenue here to the City. 

The students explained that the 11 acre property on which Seaport Marina sits is possibly the most exciting waterfront parcel in Southern California. They named their proposal Belmont Yards and suggested a mixed-use project for the site, including a hotel, residential apartments and retail and restaurant uses. 

The USC team consisted of Stephen Anderson, Daniel Bertao, Nickolas D'Argenzio, Matthew Keipper and Christian Santos. What is outstanding about their design is the connection with the waterfront, creating a vibrant pedestrian district. 

The plan recognizes the constraints and the sensitivities of SEADIP and addresses this by proposing a dual track approval process. The Belmont Yards includes: Ample active outdoor space. Street improvements and traffic mitigation. A culinary driven marina. A multifamily development. A waterside boutique hotel experience. An attempt to fill the retail void in the city. A Long Beach Gateway at the entrance. 

I appreciate being given time at City Council to present the students and the proposal and look forward to this or something as equally exciting and innovative for the land at 2nd and PCH.