CenterCal Presents Waterfront Vision

With a unanimous vote, the Redondo Beach City Council directed city staff to continue working with CenterCal Properties as the city's exclusive negotiating partner for the Redondo Beach waterfront revitalization project.

The vote was seen as an approval of the work CenterCal Properties has done on its vision of the waterfront.

The property makes up multiple acres of waterfront, including the Redondo Beach Pier, International Boardwalk and Redondo Beach Marina. The company's development plan was formed after multiple public workshops with input from residents.

"Tonight marks the next step in the exciting revitalization of the Redondo Beach waterfront," Harbor, Business and Transit Director Pete Carmichael said at the beginning of the city's brief presentation introducing CenterCal CEO Fred Bruning.

CenterCal's plan calls for open space and public areas; a market hall with restaurants and local businesses; more dining; retail and specialty shopping; a high-end, specialty movie theater with a full restaurant and bar; a boutique hotel; and office space for local professionals, according to Bruning.

"We think this has to be a very inviting space for the community," Bruning said when he explained the reasoning behind the large amount of open space. "We think this is a great place for people to gather for wellness—for yoga on the beach, for cooking demonstrations, for storytelling."

The marketplace—a 30,000- to 35,000-square-foot, single-level hall housing about 80 tenants—"would be very similar to a public market that you would find at Pike's Place (in Seattle) or the Ferry Building (in San Francisco) … a great place for lots of local tenants to come together and have a unique place on the waterfront," Bruning said.

Bruning and CenterCal President Jean Paul Wardy received applause and compliments from both the city council and residents.

"I personally have received a lot of compliments from folks about your firm (and) the amount of outreach that you have done," said Mayor Mike Gin from his spot on the dais. "You and your firm have really hit, I think, that point very well and have resonated with many folks in our community, so I have to express my appreciation to you."

The city council also approved an updated waterfront revitalization project schedule, a reimbursement agreement between the city and CenterCal, and an amendment to the exclusive negotiating agreement between the two parties.

Three more public outreach meetings—scheduled for April 11, May 11 and June  13—will be held before the city council considers a detailed development plan June 25.