Great Park Chronicles: A Comprehensive Look at Irvine’s Vision

In the forthcoming development, the Great Park in Irvine, California, is set to outshine renowned parks such as Balboa Park in San Diego, Central Park in New York, and Golden Gate Park in San Francisco in terms of size. Irvine is allocating an impressive $810 million for the initial phase of the expansion project. 

This phase will encompass a central lake, museum complex, botanical garden, veteran’s memorial park, and potentially an outdoor amphitheater. The highly anticipated retail center is scheduled to open its doors in 2026. Additionally, part of the development plan includes the transformation of Hangar 244 into a food hall by Almquist, the company previously known as Frontier Real Estate Investments. Almquist has a track record, having been involved in the creation of Rodeo 39 Public Market in Stanton, a 40,000-square-foot food hall that opened its doors in 2020.

Despite the grandeur of its plans, the Great Park acknowledges that it won’t surpass the expansive 4,310-acre Griffith Park in Los Angeles. Some key highlights from the comprehensive staff report on the project include a meticulously planned retail and grocery center situated at the intersection of Bosque and Great Park Boulevard, directly adjacent to the Great Park. Other notable aspects of the development include the renovation of Hangar 244 into a food hall, the construction of a restaurant next to the central lake, and a future expansion of a unified food and beverage strategy throughout the Great Park as it continues to evolve.

Furthermore, the staff report details a significant land exchange between the City and FivePoint, the latter being a key player in the project and the owner of Great Park Neighborhoods. The exchange involves granting Irvine ownership of Hangar 10 and the existing Pop-Up Village. In return, FivePoint will receive a site of equivalent size at the northeast corner of Great Park Boulevard and Ridge Valley, earmarked for much-needed affordable housing.

The proposed project envisions a seamless connection between the park and the retail center through a linear walkway that runs between City-owned Hangar 244 and FivePoint-owned Hangar 10. The repurposing of these hangar buildings into a public market hall and experiential retail space is expected to enhance the overall appeal. A series of restaurants and retail spaces will line the path between the hangars, creating a vibrant atmosphere.

To further enhance accessibility, the Bosque trail is slated for extension to the west, featuring a bridge over Great Park Blvd. This extension aims to provide direct access to the planned grocery center and significantly improve walkability for residents and visitors alike.

The ambitious concept of creating a large linear shopping and food center at the proposed location hinges on a land exchange between the City and FivePoint. This strategic move will not only link the grocery-anchored center on FivePoint property with the more experiential food and beverage offerings on Great Park property but will also contribute to the overall cohesiveness of the development. This holistic approach is expected to redefine the Great Park and its surroundings as a dynamic and interconnected community space.