Redevelopment of the former Los Angeles Times printing plant in Costa Mesa into Orange County’s largest creative-office reuse project could begin in earnest early next year, with ground-up development of two new offices at the iconic property taking place in future phases of construction.
Environmental impact studies pertaining to the planned redevelopment of the 24-acre site, across the street from Costa Mesa’s Ikea shopping center, were filed with the city in late June.
The redevelopment plans call for the existing 339,063-square-foot L.A. Times building to be turned into a three-story, open-air office in the first phase of construction.
L.A.-based real estate developer Kearny Real Estate Co., which is heading the site’s redevelopment, calls the project The Press, which is a nod to the property’s past role as home to L.A. Times’ Orange County edition that once had a Sunday circulation of more than 300,000.
The industrial building previously served as a printing plant, distribution center, newsroom and administrative office for the publication’s operations here but hasn’t been fully occupied in years.
The redevelopment would turn the existing property on Sunflower Avenue, a few blocks north of the San Diego (I-405) Freeway, into a building running 56.5 feet high with two levels of tiered mezzanines.
It would use the existing steel-structure of the building, and include “an expansive grid of skylights,” according to city documents.
As part of the first phase of development, a 1,277-space, three-level parking structure would also be built, filings show. Three acres of outdoor amenities would be constructed as well, including an amphitheater area, sports court and dedicated bike path, plus 20,000 square feet of covered patio areas.
Construction of the first phase of The Press would begin in January, according to city documents filed this month.
Costa Mesa’s planning commission is slated to review the project in a public hearing in mid-August.
The start of construction comes a little later than first expected.
Kearny was selected as the development partner for the site in 2015 by the property’s owner, Tribune Real Estate Holdings LLC, a subsidiary of Chicago-based Tribune Media Co.—the former owner of the L.A. Times and Chicago Tribune, among other daily newspapers.
The developer unveiled plans for the first phase of The Press last year. At the time, Kearney said construction might begin late that year, if it could get the necessary city approvals for the project and an anchor tenant on board.
The first phase of development at The Press is being targeted toward larger tenants seeking 100,000 square feet of space or more; tenants being sought include technology companies, design firms, active-wear apparel companies and device makers.
Brokers with the Irvine office of Cushman & Wakefield Inc. are handling leasing for the project, whose design is led by Irvine-based architecture firm LPA.
Kearny officials have put an estimated $100 million price tag on the initial phase of redevelopment.
2 New Offices
Subsequent phases of development aren’t likely to come cheap either.
Along with redevelopment of the existing industrial building, Kearny proposes building two buildings on the site, totaling 315,000 square feet of office space, city filings show.
Those plans include a five-story, 190,000-square-foot office and a four-level parking structure built in the second phase of development, and a 125,000-square-foot, five-story building and three-level parking structure built in the third and final phase.
If all goes as planned, the entire project could be wrapped up by March 2022, according to city filings.
