Thousands of residential units, hundreds of thousands of square feet of retail space and multiple industrial buildings are under construction or proposed in the City of Carson, according to data from city staff. The addition of residential units comes amid a statewide housing crisis that has local, county and state officials seeking methods to encourage development.
“We are doing our part to address the shortage,” Carson Community Development Director Saied Naaseh said. “They’re units that are lacking in this area for younger folks just getting out of college, getting their first job, or young families just getting started that can’t afford traditional single-family units.”
There are 903 residential units currently under construction or approved in Carson, including apartments, townhomes and condominiums. Additionally, more than 4,500 residential units are proposed and at various stages within city departments. Most of the proposed units are within two projects – 1,200 units at 21212 Avalon Blvd. and 2,920 units at 21207 Avalon Blvd. However, city staff explained that finalized plans will likely have fewer units.
Carson is attractive for developers because of its location; it is nestled between Orange County and Downtown Los Angeles right off the 91, 405 and 110 freeways, Naaseh explained. Its distance from major job hubs makes it more affordable for developers to build, while still being commutable for residents working in either job market, Naaseh said.
Located a short drive to the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, as well as its access to three freeways, Carson has long been a sought-after destination for businesses requiring industrial space. The city has numerous industrial parks featuring hundreds of buildings; however, some were constructed decades ago and have become functionally obsolete.
“Industrial properties are really hot in Carson, with vacancies at virtually zero. Prices keep going up because demand is very high. We’ve reached a point where [developers] are buying up older industrial buildings, knocking them down and building new ones.”
The city currently has nine industrial projects at various stages, for a total of around 1.6 million square feet.
One of the city’s largest and most ambitious developments is a 648,000-square-foot outlet mall by developers Macerich and Simon Property Group off the 405 Freeway at Avalon Boulevard. Plans include shops and restaurants elevated above street level, with ground-level parking, and 2,500 linear feet of frontage along the freeway. There is an additional 117,800 square feet of commercial space in various stages, some as part of mixed-use developments.
The outlet mall project is located atop a former landfill, which requires additional mitigation measures, including 3,000 piles being driven into the ground to support the structures and keep them from sinking as the landfill dissipates. The first phase of preparations, including the pouring of the foundation, are being overseen by the City of Carson. The site will be handed off to developers in early 2021, at which time construction will begin, Naaseh said.
“It’s very unique. We’re excited because it’s about 44 acres right along one of the busiest freeways in Southern California,” Naaseh said. “It’s a very desirable site and we found a very desirable use that will bring in sales tax for the city, and will also bring needed amenities to the area.”
To address the city’s needs with regard to future development, staff are in the process of updating Carson’s general plan – development guidelines that layout everything from approved land use to allowable building height. The comprehensive update will ensure the city will be able to provide the appropriate services and that the infrastructure can handle more developments, Naaseh said. The prefered land-use planning will be presented to the community for feedback at the end of March.
The following is a list of developments recently completed, under construction, approved or under review in the City of Carson, compiled by city staff and the Long Beach Business Journal:
Under Construction
Union South Bay – Mixed-Use
Location: 21521-21601 S. Avalon Blvd.
Developers: Wolff Company, Faring
Description: 357 multifamily residential units, 32,000 square feet of ground floor retail and restaurant uses, a 10,000 square foot public plaza at Carson Street and Avalon Boulevard
Fashion Outlets LA – Commercial
Location: Southwest of Del Amo Boulevard and the 405 Freeway
Developer: Macerich/Simon
Description: Los Angeles Premium Outlets on a 157 acre site – Phase 1 is approximately 460,000 square feet with 82 retail tenants and Phase 2 is approximately 188,000 square feet with 37 retail tenants.
Evolve South Bay – Residential
Location: 20330 S. Main St.
Developer: MBK Homes
Description: 300 multifamily residential units, 12,925 square feet of lease, amenity and commercial space.
Approved
Dolores Condos – Residential
Location: 21915 S. Dolores St.
Description: Five condominium units.
Birch Specific Plan – Residential
Location: 21809-21811 S. Figueroa St.
Description: 32 residential condominium units in a three-story building with ground level parking structure.
Brandywine Residential Project – Residential
Location: 1007 E. Victoria St.
Developer: Brandywine
Description: 34 three-story townhomes with attached parking.
Carson Landing Townhomes – Residential
Location: Northeast corner of Central Avenue and Victoria Street
Developer: Brandywine
Description: 175-unit residential condominium project, including 95 three-story townhome units and 80 three-story stacked flat units.
Chick-Fil-A – Commercial
Location: 20501 Avalon Blvd.
Description: Demolition of existing buildings for a new 4,962-square-foot restaurant with drive-through, outdoor seating patio and play-place.
The Carol Kimmelman Sports Academic Complex – Recreational
Location: 340 Martin Luther King Jr. St.
Developer: Carol Kimmelman Foundation
Description: Tennis courts, soccer fields and learning centers operated by the United States Tennis Association, Galaxy Foundation and Tiger Woods Foundation, respectively.
California State Dominguez Hills Master Plan – Mixed-Use
Location: 1000 Victoria St.
Developer: State of California
Description: New faculty, staff and student housing; new office, retail and entertainment center; state-of-the-art gymnasium; conference center; and incubator and convention space.
Tesoro Tank Farm – Industrial
Location: 1150 E. Sepulveda Blvd.
Developer: Tesoro
Description: Construction of six above-ground storage tanks.
Gardena Industrial Building – Industrial
Location: 439 E. Gardena Blvd.
Description: 3,800-square-feet industrial building.
Under Review
223rd Condos – Residential
Location: 123 E. 223rd St.
Description: Nine three-story residential condominiums.
Cambria Court Condos – Residential
Location: 345-349 E. 220th St.
Description: 35 condominiums.
JPI/Kott Specific Plan – Mixed-Use
Location: 21212 Avalon Blvd.
Description: 1,200 apartments and townhomes, 15,000 square feet of retail and a 200-room hotel.
Rand – Mixed-Use
Location: 225 W. Torrance Blvd.
Description: 356-unit apartment complex.
Raising Cane’s Restaurant – Commercial
Location: 20707 Avalon Blvd.
Description: 3,200-square-foot restaurant with indoor seating for 60.
CT Warehouse – Industrial
Location: 333 W. Gardena Blvd.
Description: 145,840-square-foot warehouse and manufacturing facility.
Creek at Dominguez Creek, Victoria Golf Course – Recreational
Location: 419 Martin Luther King Jr. St.
Developer: Plenitude Holdings
Description: A 170,000-square-foot multi-use indoor sports complex, 80,000-square-foot youth learning, 7,500-square-foot indoor skydiving, 80,000-square-foot marketplace, 35,000-square-foot clubhouse, 50,000-square-foot recreation/dining and a 35,000-square-foot sports wellness center.
223rd Industrial Buildings – Industrial
Location: 2112 E. 223rd St.
Developer: Panattoni
Description: Three light industrial buildings totaling 292,400 square feet.
Air Products Expansion – Industrial
Location: 23300 S. Alameda St.
Description: Company currently produces gaseous hydrogen and is proposing an expansion of their plant to produce liquefied hydrogen.
Rascals Restaurant – Commercial
Location: 205 E. Carson St.
Description: A 2,512-square-foot. restaurant.
Perry Street Industrial – Industrial
Location: 21611 Perry St.
Developer: Ken Philipps
Description: Three light industrial buildings on a 120,000-square-foot lot.
Imperial Avalon Mobile Home Park Closure and Specific Plan – Mixed-Use
Location: 21207 Avalon Blvd.
Developer: Faring Capital
Description: Mobile home park closure request, proposing mixed-use development with 2,920 residential units, 27,296 square feet of commercial space and a 27,360-square-foot medical office building.
Prologis Dominguez – Industrial
Location: 18701-18931 Wilmington Ave.
Description: Two industrial warehouses with office: 318,186 square feet and 120,540 square feet.
Completed (within the last 18 months)
Vera Lane – Residential
Location: 21801 Vera St.
Description: 18 condominiums.
Bella Vita – Residential
Location: 402 E. Sepulveda Blvd.
Developer: Equassure
Description: 65 affordable residential units for seniors, 3,000 square feet of ground floor retail, and a community garden.
Sky South Bay Moneta – Residential
Location: 21720 Moneta Ave.
Developer: Equassure
Description: 13 apartments.
Carson Arts Project – Residential
Location: 21205 Main St.
Description: 46 affordable units.
Veterans Village – Residential
Location: 600 W. Carson St.
Developer: Thomas Saffron
Description: Four-story, 51-unit affordable housing mixed-use project with 2,500 square feet of commercial space.
Alere Industrial Building – Industrial
Location: 200 E. Alondra St.
Developer: Alere
Description: A 137,000-square-foot warehouse with 10,000 square feet of office space.
AL2 Warehouse – Industrial
Location: 21900 Wilmington Ave.
Developer: Alpert and Alpert
Description: 411,840-square-foot industrial warehouse.
California Pak – Industrial
Location: 17706 S. Main St.
Developer: California Pak
Description: 101,270-square-foot warehouse industrial building.