Downtown Long Beach

Coordinates: 33°46′20″N 118°11′37″W / 33.7721°N 118.1935°W / 33.7721; -118.1935
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Downtown Long Beach
Aerial view of downtown Long Beach, California, looking southwest. San Pedro Bay and the Port of Long Beach are visible beyond, with Catalina Island faintly visible on the horizon.
Aerial view of downtown Long Beach, California, looking southwest. San Pedro Bay and the Port of Long Beach are visible beyond, with Catalina Island faintly visible on the horizon.
Downtown Long Beach is located in Long Beach, California
Downtown Long Beach
Downtown Long Beach
Downtown Long Beach is located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Downtown Long Beach
Downtown Long Beach
Downtown Long Beach is located in southern California
Downtown Long Beach
Downtown Long Beach
Downtown Long Beach is located in California
Downtown Long Beach
Downtown Long Beach
Downtown Long Beach is located in the United States
Downtown Long Beach
Downtown Long Beach
Coordinates: 33°46′20″N 118°11′37″W / 33.7721°N 118.1935°W / 33.7721; -118.1935
Country United States
StateCalifornia
CountyLos Angeles
CityLong Beach

Downtown Long Beach is the heart of Long Beach, California, United States. It is the location for most of the city's major tourist attractions and municipal services, and for numerous businesses. There are many hotels and restaurants in the area that serve locals, tourists, and convention visitors.

Location[edit]

Downtown Long Beach is bounded by the Los Angeles River to the west, and Ocean Boulevard to the south (south of Ocean is considered the "Downtown Shoreline", a separate area[1]). Alamitos Avenue roughly delimits downtown to the east, although the City's actual downtown zoning extends a few blocks east of Alamitos.[2] Similarly, downtown effectively ends around 7th Street to the north, but the City's downtown zoning carries as far north as Anaheim Street between Pacific Avenue and Long Beach Boulevard, and up to 10th Street east of that.[2]

The greater downtown area includes the neighborhoods of the East Village Arts District, the West End, North Pine, the Civic Center, and the "Downtown Core" or central business and entertainment area.[2]

Tourist attractions and shopping[edit]

Events[edit]

  • Second Saturday Art Walk (East Village)
  • Third Fridays Twilight Walk (Historic Pine Avenue)
  • Certified Organic Farmers Market (Fridays)
  • Bob Marley Reggae Festival (February)
  • Queen Mary Scottish Festival (February)
  • Congressional Cup (sailing races, April)
  • Long Beach Grand Prix & Formula DRIFT (April)
  • Cajun & Zydeco Festival (May)
  • Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride Parade & Festival (May)
  • Aloha Concert Jam (Hawaiian music, June)
  • Anime Expo or AX (SPJA) (Promotion of Japanese Animation & Culture July 2 to July 6)
  • Catalina Ski Race (July)

2028 Summer Olympics[edit]

During the 2028 Summer Olympics, downtown Long Beach will host BMX racing, water polo, triathlon and open water swimming.[3]

Government and infrastructure[edit]

Local government[edit]

County, state, and federal representation[edit]

Businesses[edit]

The Downtown Long Beach Alliance manages the business- and commercial property-based improvement districts in Downtown Long Beach. There are approximately 1,500 businesses in Downtown Long Beach, including several law firms given the proximity of the Los Angeles County Courthouse, as well as over 150 restaurants, wine bars, performing arts venues, and the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center. A complete and frequently updated business directory is available online at Downtown Long Beach Alliance's website.

The California State University system headquarters are at 401 Golden Shore in Downtown Long Beach.[6]

Revitalization Projects[edit]

Outdated office buildings that have reached the end of their competitive life-cycle are finding a new beginning as residential conversions.[7] In 2014 the city's Municipal Code provided for Adaptive Reuse, which is a "construction or remodeling project that reconfigures existing spaces, structures or buildings to accommodate a new use or to accommodate another purpose than what it was originally designed for."[8] The City created the Adaptive Reuse Incentive Program to guide developers through the process.[9] Re-purposing a building avoids demolition, sending the structure to landfills, while preserving the historic value and unique architecture of downtown Long Beach. Examples of buildings converted for reuse include the Verizon office building on 200 W. Ocean Blvd. in Long Beach which is changed into a mixed-use apartment building over retail.[10]

The Long Beach Professional Building, an eight story poured in place concrete Art Deco medical office tower constructed in 1929 and once in danger of being torn down,[11] was most recently renovated in 2018. The historic building is on the List of City of Long Beach Historic Landmarks and the California Office of Historic Preservation.[12] The building was accepted in 2005 into the National Register of Historic Places.[13] The restoration project was conducted by Global Premier Development and KTGY Architecture + Planning. The structure is now called The Regency Palms, an assisted living and memory care facility.[14]

Refer to the Downtown Update of the Long Beach Development Services for a presentation document showing completed, approved and pending projects.[15]

Transportation[edit]

The following are located in Long Beach's downtown area:

From 1902 to 1961, the neighborhood was served by the Pacific Electric Long Beach Line.

Education[edit]

Downtown Long Beach is within the Long Beach Unified School District.

Architecture[edit]

Gallery[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Downtown Shoreline Planned Development District (PD-6)". lbds.longbeach.gov. City of Long Beach. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  2. ^ a b c "Downtown Plan (PD-30)". lbds.longbeach.gov. City of Long Beach. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  3. ^ "GOVERNANCE, LEGAL and VENUE FUNDING - Olympics Watch" (PDF).
  4. ^ "Post Office Location - DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
  5. ^ "Courthouses in Los Angeles County – Contacts and Locations – LA Court". www.lacourt.org. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  6. ^ Home Page. California State University. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
  7. ^ Nahigyan, Pierce (5 October 2018). "Transforming Downtown Long Beach: Converting Office Space To Living Space". www.lbbusinessjournal.com. Long Beach Business Journal. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  8. ^ Long Beach Municipal Code Definition of Adaptive Reuse - eLaws.us
  9. ^ Long Beach Adaptive Reuse Incentive Program
  10. ^ More apartments added to plan for Long Beach Verizon building
  11. ^ Preservation: Lost Long Beach Landmarks
  12. ^ California Office of Historic Preservation
  13. ^ National Register of Historic Places Registration Form
  14. ^ Regency Palms Renovation Information
  15. ^ 2018 in Review, Downtown Plan Update
  16. ^ Edwards, Andrew (25 August 2016). "Former Edison building in downtown Long Beach converted to high-end apartments". Press Telegram.
  17. ^ "PCAD - Tichenor, Adelaide M., House, Long Beach, CA". pcad.lib.washington.edu.
  18. ^ "Farmers & Merchants Bank Tower". City of Long Beach.
  19. ^ "Rowan Bradley Building". City of Long Beach.
  20. ^ Van Dyke, Jonathan. "Downtown Security Pacific National Bank Converting To Condominums Above Federal Bar". www.Gazettes.com.
  21. ^ "PCAD - Farmers and Merchants National Bank of Los Angeles, Office Building, Long Beach, CA". pcad.lib.washington.edu.
  22. ^ Keller, Harvey. "Long Beach Treasures: Farmers and Merchants Bank". YouTube.
  23. ^ "Pacific Tower". City of Long Beach.
  24. ^ "PCAD - William Horace Austin Jr". pcad.lib.washington.edu.
  25. ^ "Walker building". Loftway.
  26. ^ "Municode Library". library.municode.com.
  27. ^ "Lincoln Park". www.longbeach.gov.