A pair of residential towers have been proposed for Newport Center, which if built would be the tallest housing project for the high-end area surrounding Fashion Island.
Related California presented a proposal to Newport Beach to build two residential buildings – 18 and 21 floors tall – with 140 luxury condominium units.
The proposed plan to build two condominium towers at 300 and 210 Newport Center Drive in Newport Beach was outlined in a Nov. 4 letter from Irvine-based Related California to the city’s planning department.
Related California would demolish existing buildings at 300 and 210 Newport Center Drive and replace them with two high-rises entirely dedicated to condominiums.
One of those buildings is the Regal Edwards Big Newport, a six-screen first-run movie theater that has also hosted many screenings of the Newport Beach Film Festival.
The movie theater, as well as the parking lot and the neighboring building at 210 Newport Center Drive, would be razed to make way for the Related California condominium project, according to the proposal.
The condominium development would take up of 538,100 square feet and 280 parking spaces. The parking structure would take up 138,100 square feet, according to Related California.
Other luxury residential projects within Related California’s portfolio include The Avery in San Francisco, The Century in Century City and Waverly in Santa Monica.
The company in October received approval for a $3 billion project called Related Bristol that will be the largest private investment for a development project in Santa Ana’s history.
Related California plans to convert 41 acres of land, currently called the Metro Town Square, into a mixed-use destination with apartments, cafés, outdoor spaces, restaurants, shops and other uses across from South Coast Plaza.
More Housing at Newport Center
Several housing developments are in play for the Newport Center area, including 200 apartment units proposed to be added at the Villas of Fashion Island and 600 apartments pitched at 110 Newport Center Drive, also known as Block 100. Both projects are proposed by Newport Beach-based Irvine Company.
Santa Ana developer Nexus Companies also debuted a senior living project at the former Orange County Museum of Art. Vivante Newport Center features 99 assisted living apartments and amenities such as an on-site movie theater, golf simulator, bowling alley and spa.
Prior to Vivante, the former art museum site was eyed by Related California for a separate high-end residential tower developments.
That project was ultimately shot down due to local objections.
Newport Center is one of five regions in Newport Beach where the city plans to rezone for housing projects, consistent with California’s mandate.
The Newport Beach City Council specifically approved a plan to rezone Newport Center to allow for 2,439 new housing units. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has set a goal to build 2.5 million new housing units by 2030, saying it will reduce home prices and create more choices.
The state legislature has imposed a series of laws dictating how many units each city must build. Cities that don’t meet the mandates can be fined, lose the power to control their own zoning or be sent into a court receivership and have decisions made for them.
Related California’s proposed plans did not clarify whether the 140-condominium development is part of the state mandate in Newport Beach to build more housing.
None of the condominiums would be offered below market rate, per Related California’s proposal.
The Dec. 23 print issue incorrectly identified the owner of the land sites.
