Construction is underway on a new five-story, 184-unit apartment building that will replace a garage near Fashion Island.
City officials told the Business Journal that master-planned real estate developer Irvine Co., the property owner, has completed demolition of the four-story, 842-space garage on a 2.2-acre site at 800 San Clemente.
Last month, the company received construction permits for the new apartment project, which is about a five to 10-minute walk north of Bloomingdale’s at Fashion Island.
The new building will expand the real estate company’s existing 524-unit Villas of Fashion Island apartment complex, which opened in 2017.
With the new market-rate apartments, the Villas of Fashion Island will total 708 units, according to city officials.
City planners said that replacing the underused garage is another step in Newport Beach’s efforts to add more housing to the job-rich Newport Center area.
“This project takes a site that wasn’t serving a specific use and turns it into housing that helps meet the city’s needs,” said Oscar Orozco, an associate planner with Newport Beach.
Irvine Co. Project
City planning officials granted administrative approval in November, allowing the project to move forward.
Officials explained that the project was eligible for administrative approval under the North Newport Center Planned Community zoning, which allows the city’s community development director to approve qualifying projects without going before the planning commission or City Council.
“The zoning allows for this type of residential development to be approved administratively, as long as it meets the city’s general plan and design standards,” Orozco said.
The new building will have about 225,000 square feet of residential space, two levels of underground parking with 287 spaces and amenities such as a pool, sauna, fitness center, outdoor courtyard and coworking spaces.
Residents of the newer Villas of Fashion Island property will also be able to use the original building’s swimming pools, clubhouse, yoga studio, fitness center and lounge.
The project is expected to be finished by 2028, city officials said.
