City of Long Beach approves civic center redevelopment

The Long Beach City Council has voted unanimously (9-0) to move forward with its civic center redevelopment project, which will see the Plenary-Edgemoor Civic Partners (PECP) team develop, design, build, finance, operate and maintain a new civic center in downtown Long Beach.

The project includes more than US$500 million in public and civic infrastructure, as well as supporting residential and mixed-use private developments.

The Board of Harbor Commissioners also voted unanimously (4-0) to approve the port’s participation in the redevelopment project, which will see the Port of Long Beach relocate its headquarters to downtown Long Beach. 

“This transformative project will write a new chapter in the story of Long Beach,” said Plenary Concessions Executive Chairman Dale Bonner.

“We would like to thank the City and the Port for the opportunity to deliver on the city’s vision and we look forward to moving to the next stage in the process.”

PECP was named the city’s exclusive negotiation partner in December of 2014.

Since that time, the team has held or participated in over 100 community meetings, hosted countless discussions with various city departments and the port, and sought ways to improve upon the original proposal.

“Our team spent considerable time with many stakeholders throughout Long Beach, and the final design is proof of this effort,” said Plenary Group Senior Vice President Stuart Marks.

“We especially thank our partners at the City, the Port, and in the various Council Districts and community groups throughout Long Beach that provided valuable input.”

The project selection and approval process has spanned multiple years and numerous meetings.

On 12 February 2013 the Long Beach City Council initiated the process when it released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ).

Of seven teams that responded to the RFQ, the City shortlisted three to respond to a more detailed Request for Proposals (RFP) issued on 28 February 2014.

It was from this group that PECP was chosen as the City’s exclusive negotiating partner.

The approved project includes a number of innovative and sustainability-minded features.

The New Main Library is based on sustainable design and state-of-the art programming and interior planning.

The new library will be relocated to the northern end of the revitalized Lincoln Park with dual entries to engage park users and the surrounding neighborhoods to the north.

A revitalized Lincoln Park has been designed with walkways, lighting and landscaping to create multiple activity zones and improved amenability and public safety.

The City Hall and Port Headquarters are designed as separate and distinct buildings to meet their respective programming and security requirements, as well as to create a modern and efficient workplace environment.

The separate buildings have shared facilities and both open to the new Civic Plaza.

The new City Hall, Port headquarters and Main Library are each designed to achieve a LEED Gold rating.

Having received approval to proceed, the PECP consortium will now move toward Financial Close, set for January 2016.

Construction is slated to begin in the middle of 2016, following the demolition of the existing Courthouse and cleanup of the site.

In preparation for construction, PECP has already hosted a construction careers job fair and will continue to hold local workforce outreach events throughout the City.