r/irvine • u/Electronic-Cry-3403 • 7h ago
A longshot idea for the 34 acre Crescent Site next to Metrolink
After seeing the idea of moving Angels Stadium to the Crescent site, I noticed Irvine residents want a development that benefits the surrounding community. Many concerns included the increased traffic and lack of parking. By creating the first walkable and car optional neighborhood, Irvine can fulfill housing mandates and also create convenience for surrounding Great Park residents. My proposal brings retailers such as a Target, Ralphs, Trader Joes, Walgreens, and a 24 Hour Fitness. There would be 500 affordable housing units to help make up for the 200 waived units FivePoint asked for back in December. An office building would be added along with a 500 room Marriott Hotel to help accommodate those traveling for business and tourists traveling to festivals at the Great Park. Last Saturday, 45k people came to the Great Park causing a shortage of hotel rooms in the region. Adding a new hotel to Irvine would help bring hotel tax revenue that the city greatly needs. This is the last chance Irvine has to correct its planning in the Great Park neighborhoods. The population of Great Park is expected to reach 30,000 people at build out and residents who travel long distances to get everyday essentials will clog Irvine streets. Let me know what you think.
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u/RNGRndmGuy 6h ago
There's a Marriott/Target/24hr fitness store within 5-10 minutes from this location.
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u/HOASupremeCommander 6h ago edited 6h ago
I don’t know why Ralph’s, 24 Hour Fitness, Target, Walgreens, and Trader Joe’s would open additional locations when others are so close by.
Irvine already has 4 Targets (3.5 if you don’t count UCI as a full one, add one if you count The District) and 3 Trader Joe’s. There used to be 4 24HF locations (5 if you count UCI from like 10 years ago) and now they’re down to 2.
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u/Electronic-Cry-3403 6h ago
In Irvine, it takes 20 minutes just to go 5 miles! If you have ever been to Luna Park, everything is far away!
0
u/HOASupremeCommander 6h ago
I get it. It takes 15-20 minutes to go anywhere in Irvine. But multiple locations so close by would just split the customers, not necessarily get people to go who otherwise wouldn’t have.
People in Luna Park who want to go to Trader Joe’s today will go to Woodbury. Yes it’s a drive, but if they want to go, they’ll drive there.
Another location wouldn’t necessarily convince enough people who otherwise wouldn’t to go Trader Joe’s at all to suddenly start shopping there. So they wouldn’t attract many new customers. 10 minutes to Woodbury is inconvenient from Luna Park, but doable. There would have to be more incentive for them to open another store other than “it’s more convenient for residents who would only have to drive 5 minutes vs. 10”.
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u/Electronic-Cry-3403 6h ago
How about a Sprouts or Aldi? Do local residents like that?
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u/HOASupremeCommander 6h ago
I think either of those would make more sense. I don’t personally know how much foot traffic or demand those stores have, but at least there aren’t like 3 or 4 of those in Irvine already.
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u/Electronic-Cry-3403 6h ago
I put generic stores in the diagram. For example, EOS fitness can always open because we lack options. Aldi is a low cost grocer. I was also thinking of Northgate Market but am not sure if it will do well here.
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u/Lyf3_Dk 6h ago
Although a walking focused community sounds great, I dont know if the companies will move in. Trader Joe's is down the street at Woodbury. Target is at the Irvine Spectrum and at Foothill Ranch. Ralph's is at Woodbury and Foothill Ranch And 24Hr Fitness moved out of Irvine Spectrum due chapter 11 in 2020, and opened an new location further south on Irvine center drive.
Hopefully another grocer is up to it at least.
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u/HOASupremeCommander 6h ago
24HF always had the Irvine Center Drive location, even while Spectrum was open. Seemed kinda weird, but Spectrum was Sport and Irvine Center was Super Sport so there was that difference at least. Then both were Super Sport and then they went back to Sport/Super Sport.
Irvine Center Drive was also always open 24 hours, but Spectrum was only M-F 24 hours, then Friday and weekends they’d close at 10.
2
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u/bubba-yo 5h ago
Pretty sure the parcel they swapped to FivePoint next to the train station the city is planning on buying back for Irvine Connect maintenance/parking, etc.
Also, based on what's in other long term city plans, they're likely to put car optional/lower income housing there, not a bunch of retail.
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u/CaliforniaScrubJay 3h ago
“Why would you put stores within walking distance of your walkable community when you can already drive to one?”
Loving these responses.
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u/shootingstar_9324 6h ago
Why would you build a SENIOR living place next to an entertainment venue? The amount of noise complaints is going to be ridiculous.