Downtown Long Beach has 142 more much-needed apartments for lease with the opening of The Magnolia at the southwest corner of Magnolia Avenue and West Broadway, across the street from the George Deukmejian Courthouse. But almost half are already off the market.
Built by Ensemble Real Estate Investments, the seven-story project consists of a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments ranging from 532 to 1,232 square feet. Units are going for $2,580 to $4,233 per month.
The apartments have open floor plans and include smart home technology, energy efficient features, full-size in-unit washers and dryers, plank vinyl wood flooring, WiFi and more.
“Long Beach is the only major city with a coastal downtown between San Diego and San Francisco,” Tyson Sayles, a principal at Ensemble, said in a statement. “Downtown Long Beach’s vibrancy is shown in its aquarium and beaches, its performing arts and business, its local retailers and its public transit and freeway access.”
The developer noted that the project is within walking distance to parks, the Metro A Line and Downtown destinations such as restaurants, shops and entertainment. The development is also walkable to Downtown office buildings.
The Magnolia quietly opened on May 9, according to Ensemble spokesperson Cameron Andrews, with signs announcing the units for rent. The first tenant moved in on June 1 and, after less than three months, 46% of the building’s units have been leased, Andrews added.
The project broke ground in January 2020 with construction expected to take about 18 months. The coronavirus pandemic, however, caused delays, Andrews said.
Plant-based Mexican food restaurant Sugar Taco and Pawspace, a daycare, boarding, grooming and adoption center, have leased the ground-floor retail space, but neither business is open yet, Andrews said.
“We are excited to meet our new Long Beach neighbors and join the eclectic and delicious food scene in the seaside city while sharing our commitment to a better world one taco at a time,” Sugar Taco owner Jayde Nicole said in a statement.
Pawspace is expected to open later this year. Each resident of The Magnolia receives a free annual membership, which includes three free days of daycare, one free overnight boarding, 15% off all services and products and 10% off adoption fees, and dog-walking services.
The development features a host of amenities, including a rooftop complex with a pool deck, a fitness center, co-working space and a garden terrace. The pool deck includes a heated jetted pool, daybeds, lounge chairs, an outdoor shower and an outdoor TV fireplace.
Also on the roof is the Sky Lounge, which features outdoor barbecue grills, a communal farm table and lounge seating with an outdoor fireplace. The Parlor, meanwhile, is a communal seating area with TV for gaming and movies.
A large veranda rounds out the rooftop offerings with a fully equipped gourmet kitchen, lounge and bar seating, and more communal space.
The project offers 191 parking stalls, including 21 with charging capabilities dedicated to electric vehicles, across three levels: the building’s first two floors, as well as one subterranean level.
The Magnolia is not the first Long Beach development for Ensemble, which has been based in Long Beach for 26 years. The firm simultaneously built the 94-unit 442 Residences on Ocean Boulevard and the 112-unit Crest adjacent to the Long Beach Convention Center. The two projects opened in 2019.
“We’re excited to have Ensemble … complete another great project in Downtown, this one enhancing our West Gateway corridor,” Mayor Robert Garcia said in a statement. “Their vision has helped strengthen Long Beach, making our downtown even more of a community—and it is an ideal place to work, raise a family and invest in the future.”
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to remove a reference to a development that Ensemble previously owned but has since sold.
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