City Manager

ENHANCED DOWNTOWN FOCUS

Downtown Long Beach has undergone a remarkable transformation in the past decade, driven by a surge in residential, commercial and economic development. With 4,180 permits approved for commercial projects in the last ten years, Council District 1 is home to a diverse array of businesses that enrich our local economy. Over the last decade, Downtown has become home to 5,000 new housing units that have been built, approved or are under construction, bringing fresh vibrancy and affordable and market-rate housing options to the area.

This growth isn’t limited to just homes; restaurants, shops, hotels and other amenities have also popped up, catering to residents and visitors alike. Over the eight years alone, the City has approved over 2,806 business licenses. The City has also revitalized various areas throughout the area including the adaptive reuse of 456 and 440 Elm Avenue which brought an event center and multiple new food options in Downtown, and the adaptive reuse of the Verizon Building, Ocean Center, and Breakers hotel which brought hundreds of new apartments and hotel rooms to improve the Downtown Long Beach experience for visitors and residents.

The City also conducts intentional outreach and provides support to small businesses in the area through our various grant offerings. The City awarded over $10.3 million to support 894 businesses and nonprofits through the Small Business Relief Program. Through our Visual Improvement Program, $120,000 has been distributed to help small businesses cover the cost of storefront repairs, boarding cost, insurance deductibles and operating expenses.

The City has also expanded the Department of Health & Human Services operations to further help people experiencing homelessness in Downtown get connected to case management and resources. The Mobile Access Center now has various stops in Downtown each week including Billie Jean King Library, Christian Outreach in Action, the intersection of 6th Street and Long Beach Boulevard and Elm Avenue and 2nd Street, and Willow Street Station which will connect people on the Metro A line to services.

• Ongoing Efforts

  • Police Department will focus on reducing crime, enhancing safety, and improving the quality of life for residents, businesses, and visitors in identified areas through an evidence-based analysis of crime analysis statistics, trends, and information gathering.
  • Police Department will focus on trespassing, illegal drug sales, violent crime, property crime, juvenile loitering and curfew, all of which may occur in Downtown.
  • Police Department to continue appropriate enforcement of municipal, penal, and vehicle code violations, district car checks, and ongoing engagement with community and local businesses.
  • Police Department will continually analyze statistics and trends in Downtown area and allocate resources as necessary.
  • Police Department to engage in a focused communication strategy for messaging and outreach of crime information, which will include the use of social medial, email updates to neighborhood associations and the Downtown Long Beach Alliance, Next Door, and Ring, as needed.
  • Police Department to continue communicating with key external and internal stakeholders regarding crime and police operations and maintain coordinated Police operations to enhance safety in Downtown area.
  • Police Department and Library Services to collaborate and promote a safe environment inside libraries and provide a quick response to episodes of violence inside Billie Jean King Main Library and terrace.
  • Police Department, Library Services, Public Works to collaborate to enhance safety at Broadway and Lincoln parking garage to reduce break-ins.
  • Fire Department will maintain visible presence in Downtown area and provide basic first aid, general fire safety education, and refer people needing mental health care and shelter to the appropriate resources.
  • Fire Department will continue with efforts to monitor and track entries into Knox Box lock boxes in the Downtown area.
  • Fire prevention efforts will be provided to assist with all special events in the Downtown area by the City Fire Marshal’s Office.
  • Fire Department’s ambulance operators and lifeguards collaborate with homeless outreach teams to provide resources and information to individuals experiencing homelessness and assist residents who have been impacted by the conditions in Downtown.
  • Economic Development to continue BizCare Program operations to help connect small businesses in low- to-moderate income areas of Long Beach to resources, such as, small business grants, loans, technical assistance, and more.
  • Economic Development to support a call center and email help line for businesses to receive assistance and access to resources.
  • Economic Development to host weekly pop-ups and conduct targeted outreach to businesses to maximize equitable distribution of resources.
  • Economic Development to assist small business owners with financial assistance, marketing, and technical assistance through the Inclusive Business Navigator Program.
  • Economic Development to continue the Visual Improvement Program and provide grants to local businesses impacted by crime and vandalism.
  • Economic Development to provide $25,000 - $100,000 in loans to small businesses throughout Long Beach, including Downtown, through the Microenterprise Loan Program to assist with business expenses.
  • Economic Development to continue partnership with National Development Council Grow America Fund to provide $100,000 - $2,000,000 in loans to businesses throughout Long Beach, including Downtown, that have operated in the area for at least two years.
  • Economic Development to foster Visit Long Beach partnerships with local small businesses to stimulate the Downtown economy.
  • Economic Development to continue partnership with Downtown Long Beach Alliance, Downtown business owners, and residents to explore and partner in ways to activate City streets.
  • Economic Development to prepare for the 2026 World Cup and positioning Long Beach, specifically Downtown, as a major destination supporting the region for the event and the second largest Olympics hub.
  • Homeless Services Outreach workers stationed at multiple libraries throughout Long Beach, including Billie Jean King, to support individuals experiencing homelessness and offer resources, such as housing.
  • Homeless Services Outreach team dedicated to the South Division to connect people with resources and case management.
  • The Restorative Engagement to Achieve Collective Health (REACH) Outreach Team spends time in Downtown multiple days a week helping connect individuals experiencing homelessness to resources and housing.
  • Department of Health and Human Services team meetings to focus specifically on homeless outreach and clean-up efforts at Lincoln Park and Billie Jean King Library. Additionally, one night per week, homeless outreach is conducted after hours with support from the Police Department.
  • Department of Health and Human Services to continue collaboration with the County Department of Health Services to connect individuals experiencing homelessness with additional resources, such as recuperative care and enhanced residential care.
  • Department of Health and Human Services to continue discussions with Metro about services for people experiencing homelessness along the A line to better address the end of the line issues experienced in Downtown.
  • Office of Youth Development and Long Beach Public Library collaboration to engage youth at Lincoln Park and Billie Jean King Main Library.
  • Library Services to continue power washing six times per week to promote cleanliness on Billie Jean King Main Library terrace.
  • Library Health Educators, located throughout Long Beach, including Billie Jean King Library, will continue to connect people experiencing homelessness with services and resources.
  • Library Services to continue social media efforts to promote family-oriented enrichment activities happening at Billie Jean King Library.
  • Library Services to continue partnership with Downtown Long Beach Alliance, Studio One Eleven, and Parks, Recreation, and Marine to develop programs, engage residents, and strengthen park activation efforts at Lincoln Park.
  • Library Services to host additional Coffee, Conversation, & Clean-up Events with Downtown Long Beach Alliance to bring guest speakers, trash pick-up in Lincoln Park, and promote growth of Friends of Lincoln Park.
  • Public Works to continue collaboration with Downtown Long Beach Alliance and Convention and Visitors Bureau for Clean Team, Street Maintenance, and Graffiti Abatement.
  • Public Works to collaborate with Parks, Recreation, and Marine, Library, and Downtown Long Beach Alliance to help further activate Lincoln Park.
  • Public Works to strengthen pedestrian and bicycle safety education efforts through interactive activities and targeted messaging in Downtown.
  • Public Works to collaborate with community partners to address additional needs.
  • Parks, Recreation, and Marine programs occur year round Monday through Friday from 11:00 am – 6:00 pm throughout Long Beach, including Downtown, in hopes of engaging and connecting Long Beach youth.
  • Parks, Recreation, and Marine to continue daily cleanups of light or small trash around programming areas in Lincoln Park.
  • Parks, Recreation, and Marine to continue daily park check-ins and monitoring of graffiti or damaged park amenities at all Long Beach Parks, including Lincoln Park.
  • Parks, Recreation, and Marine to host lawn games, arts & crafts activities, and board game events for Long Beach residents throughout Long Beach, including Lincoln Park.
  • Parks, Recreation, and Marine to share resources and information regarding Parks programming through social media and printed materials.
  • Parks, Recreation, and Marine and Library Services to continue membership in the Lincoln Park Collaborative to further activate Billie Jean King Main Library Terrace and Lincoln Park.
  • Parks, Recreation, and Marine to host weekly group sessions and classes to encourage community building and park activation at Lincoln Park. Beginning January 2, 2024 until further notice activities include:
    • Walking Group- Tuesday from 5:00 – 6:00 pm.
    • Introduction to Fitness with Park Equipment- Wednesday from 5:00 –6:00 pm.
    • Come and Dance: Moving and Grooving- Friday from 5:00 – 6:00 pm.
    • Play Dates in Park after Library Story Time every Friday from 12:00 – 1:00 pm.
    • Dog Obedience classes at the Dog Park every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 12:00 – 1:00 pm. Yoga Class every Saturday from 9:00 – 10:00 am.
  • Parks, Recreation, and Marine will continue to host fun, family-oriented events at Long Beach Parks:
    • Monthly Movies in the Park series at Lincoln Park that includes movie, popcorn, crafts, face painting, and cookie making.
    • Monthly Family Game Nights at Lincoln Park that invites the families out to participate in activities of bingo, obstacle courses, games, scavenger hunts, board games, and more.
    • Skate Park Events in collaboration with Action Sports Kids Foundation – March 15, 2024
  • Office of Public Affairs and Communications to work with Economic Development and Downtown Long Beach Alliance to engage Downtown business owners and highlight their experiences in the area.
  • Office of Public Affairs and Communications will maintain a proactive approach to messaging City events, initiatives, programs, and opportunities across the City, inclusive of Downtown.

Enhanced Focus on Downtown Long Beach Tracker

• Immediate Needs: Public Safety

  • In Progress: Fire Department obtaining additional resources to address current arson investigator caseload.
  • In Progress: Fire Department will develop a plan to upgrade all Knox Box devices in the Downtown.
  • Completed: Fire Department’s Arson Team has arrested the suspect for the Camden Harbor View Apartments series of car fires.
  • Completed: Police Department has temporarily reallocate available Police Officers, including Neighborhood Safety Bike Team and Quality of Life Officers, to maintain a visible and increased police presence in high priority areas in Downtown.

• Immediate Needs: Economic Rejuvenation

  • In Progress: Public Works to collaborate with the Downtown Long Beach Alliance to enhance street maintenance services at specific locations in Downtown.
  • In Progress: Office of Public Affairs and Communications to develop a stronger focus and communications strategy on positive activities in Downtown over the coming months with information from various City departments.
  • In Progress: Economic Development to create a rapid response effort for businesses affected by crime to offer same or next day connection to the Visual Improvement Program and/or a visit from a BizCare representative for impacted businesses throughout Long Beach, including Downtown.
  • In Progress: Economic Development to strengthen the connection between the Police Department Board Up Program, the Downtown Long Beach Alliance grant support program and the Visual Improvement Program to provide coordinated service to businesses experiencing damage to property.
  • Forthcoming: Construction expected to begin on Trammell Crow’s West Gateway Project at 600 West Broadway. This will bring a six-building development comprised of 756 residential units and 3,200 square feet of commercial retail space.
  • Completed: Economic Development revised the Visual Improvement Program to permit businesses to apply more than once if needed which aims to support businesses across Long Beach, including Downtown.
  • Completed: Development of Hotel Mai at 107 Long Beach Boulevard offers 34 guest rooms and amenities further adding to the tourism industry in Downtown.
  • Completed: Community Development activation of the new Alamitos Beach Concession Stand through the grand opening of the new Gaucho Beach restaurant on November 10, 2023.
  • Completed: Completion of Onni East Village, largest Downtown project in decades, which brings 432 apartments, retail, food, and art space to the area and enhances an entire City block of Long Beach Boulevard.
  • Completed: Community Development approved 88 permits for 3,7000 residential units with a $678,000,000 valuation over the past ten years in Council District 1.
  • Completed: Community Development issued 303 new business licenses during the 2023 calendar year in Council District 1.
  • Completed: Community Development approved 26 permits for 300 residential units with a $48,000,000 valuation during the 2023 calendar year in Council District 1.
  • Completed: Community Development approved 359 permits for commercial projects with a valuation of $97.3 million in the 2023 calendar year in Council District 1.

• Neighborhood Activation & Equitable Placemaking

  • In Progress: Office of Public Affairs and Communications will meet routinely with Downtown Long Beach Alliance and Convention and Visitors Bureau Communications staff to discuss and implement proactive coordinated communications efforts related to events, activations and other beneficial community-focused programs specific to the Downtown area.
  • In Progress: Library Services will utilize Billie Jean King Main Library terrace for more special events such as: Halloween, Winter Fest, Mercadito Literario, and Celebration of the Young Child. In Progress: Library Services will strengthen planning efforts with Parks, Recreation, and Marine to offer increased programs such as: Library Family Storytime followed by Park Playgroup and Loteria at Billie Jean King Library and Lincoln Park.
  • Forthcoming: Parks, Recreation, and Marine will host a Spring Fest Event at Lincoln Park in March 2024 with activities such as a visit from the easter bunny, egg hunt, crafts, games, and photo opportunities.
  • Forthcoming: Parks, Recreation, and Marine, the Health Department, and Library will host Celebration of the Young Child at Billie Jean King Library on April 27th.
  • Forthcoming: Public Works will improve accessibility at Lincoln Park through fence adjustments. Completed: Public Works has restored sidewalk access on Ocean Boulevard between Lincoln Park and City Hall.
  • Completed: Public Works repainted red curbs along Pine Avenue.

• Public Safety

  • Forthcoming: Department of Health and Human Services to work with Police Department to re-establish the jail clinician program to connect people who are incarcerated to resources and housing before they are released.
  • Forthcoming: Department of Health and Human Services will expand the Community Crisis Response service areas to include a focus on Downtown and other parts of Long Beach who need immediate mental health support and resources such as clothes, food, water, and more.
  • In Progress: Public Works will identify new areas to improve street lighting in Downtown.
  • Public Works will update parking equipment and security at City owned parking lots in Downtown.
  • In Progress: Fire Department has an additional engine company responding out of Fire Station 1 in Downtown, providing more efficient service model and collection data specific to shorter response times.
  • In Progress: Fire Department staffed a paramedic ambulance in Downtown, providing quicker response rimes and additional resources to a highly populated area with a significant call volume.
  • In Progress: Fire Department exploring Arson Prevention efforts through public trainings and education focusing on Community Risk Reduction throughout Long Beach, including Downtown.

• Economic Rejuvenation

  • In Progress: $50 million investment in the Convention Center to address aging infrastructure and continue the building’s legacy as a strong economic driver for the City.
  • In Progress: Community Development to continue construction on Holland Partner Group and Ensembles 3rd + Pacific project, a 271-unit apartment building with a paseo connecting Pine and Pacific Avenues and introduce new recreation, retail, and dining options Downtown.
  • In Progress: Community Development to complete construction on Broadstone Promenade which will add 189 apartments, 10,000 square feet of retail to the area, and bring activity to the previously vacant lot.
  • In Progress: Public Works to explore paid parking opportunities for residents and/or businesses at 125 Elm while awaiting the conversion to the Police Crime Lab, Senior Center and utility offices.
  • Forthcoming: Public Works to install the historic Blue Car Train donated to the City in Downtown. Public works to work on right-of-way improvements to First Street between Pacific and Elm.
  • Forthcoming: Economic Development to launch the Visit Long Beach Campaign to enhance the City’s profile for visitors to Long Beach, including the Downtown region.
  • Forthcoming: Economic Development to work with Downtown Long Beach Alliance, Financial Management, and Community Development to report on the number of new businesses coming into Downtown.
  • Completed: Community Development approved 88 permits for 3,7000 residential units with a $678,000,000 valuation over the past ten years in Council District 1.
  • Completed: Community Development issued 303 new business licenses during the 2023 calendar year in Council District 1.
  • Completed: Community Development approved 26 permits for 300 residential units with a $48,000,000 valuation during the 2023 calendar year in Council District 1.
  • Completed: Community Development approved 359 permits for commercial projects with a valuation of $97.3 million in the 2023 calendar year in Council District 1.

• Neighborhood Activation & Equitable Placemaking

  • In Progress: Public Works conducting landscape improvements at Pine Avenue and Ocean Boulevard.
  • In Progress: Community Development to construct a new vision and feasibility plan in partnership with community for the new LGBTQ+ Cultural District to honor the LGBTQ+ community and further activate the East Broadway Avenue corridor between Alamitos and Temple Avenue.
  • In Progress: Public Works to complete design and begin construction on the First Street Improvements that will embed security and livability improvements.
  • In Progress: Public Works to increase free Circuit Micro Mobility Electric Shuttle program hours of operation for residents and visitors in Downtown.
  • Forthcoming: Public Works to expand use of our Bikeshare for All program.
  • Forthcoming: Parks, Recreation, and Marine will host a daily Summer Lunch Program Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at Lincoln Park for youth ages 1-18 years old from June 17 – August 23, 2024.

• Economic Rejuvenation

  • In Progress: Community Development in the construction phase of The Mosaic, a 900-unit mixed-income housing project located at 450 The Promenade North with 54 units set aside for very low-income households

• Healthy Communities

  • In Progress: Department of Health and Human Services to provide additional mental health clinicians at parks and libraries to provide accessible support, including the Downtown area.
  • Forthcoming: Department of Health and Human Services to develop an online, 24/7 mental health platform to support early intervention, prevention, and low to medium mental health issues in multiple languages.
  • Forthcoming: Department of Health and Human Services to develop a Mental Wellness Center to provide mental health services, education, and screenings for priority populations across Long Beach, including providing assistance to people in Downtown.
  • Forthcoming: Department of Health and Human Services to purchase a mobile mental health unit to fill gaps in the mental health care system by reaching underserved populations throughout Long Beach, including Downtown.
  • Forthcoming: Department of Health and Human Services to establish stronger coordination with Homeless Outreach Program Integrated Care System to outreach to individuals on the A line.

• Neighborhood Activation & Equitable Placemakings

  • Forthcoming: Public Works planning and design underway for three major grant funded projects that improve the accessibility and walkability of Downtown. Downtown Long Beach Walkable Corners:
    • Transform walkability by installing pedestrian refuge islands, bulb-outs with bioswales and landscape. Pacific Avenue Cycle Track:
    • Installation of protected bike lanes, bus islands, protected intersections, and high-visibility crosswalks on Pacific Avenue 1.6 miles from Ocean Boulevard to Pacific Coast Highway.
    • Downtown Long Beach 5th Street A Line Station: Reconfigure 6th Street to add a two-way protected bike lane and enhanced pedestrian safety features, including crosswalks, landscaping and bulb-outs.
  • Forthcoming: Economic Development to demolish the Scottish Village at the Queen Mary site and develop future planning efforts to activate the underutilized property on Queen Mary Island.