Residents living in Irvine’s Great Park neighborhoods are expected to get nearby shopping options by 2027, after years of waiting and driving to surrounding neighborhoods for groceries and cuisine.

City leaders are taking steps to finalize the Great Park’s retail center that’s expected to feature grocery stores and other shopping options.

The city had already selected Almquist as the developer to create the new center in a two-pronged plan.

[Read: Are Retail and Restaurants Finally Coming to the Great Park?]

During a meeting on April 22, the city council unanimously directed the city manager to finalize and execute a Project Development Agreement with Almquist to create the retail center, also known as The Canopy.

It’s expected to be completed in two phases.

The first phase will be constructed on Almquist-owned property and is expected to feature grocery stores and outdoor community spaces. The first phase is slated to break ground this month, according to the April 22 staff report.

The second phase is expected to be constructed on 10 acres of city-owned property. Plans include the construction of three new buildings, a parking lot and outdoor seating to feature mostly food and beverage options.

“This has been anxiously awaited by so many people in the Great Park area and those of us from afar who also want to see retail close to the Great Park and available to people in the northeast part of our city,” Mayor Larry Agran said at the meeting.

“I think it’s going to be amazingly successful and enjoyable.”

Plans also include developing new food options inside two abandoned aircraft hangars, leftover from Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. 

Almquist was responsible for remodeling a series of projects in San Juan Capistrano, including the Capistrano Plaza, and the development of the Rodeo 39 Public Market in Stanton, according to their website.  

The plans also come after the council previously approved a land swap with a local developer that paved the way to create space for the new retail center.

[Read: Has Irvine Finally Figured Out a Retail Approach to the Great Park?]

Pete Carmichael, assistant city manager, said Irvine is expected to execute the second phase through a 30-year ground lease with Almquist. He said the city will bond approximately $14 million for the building construction.

Carmichael said Almquist will pay the bond debt through their lease payments, expected to be about $1 million annually.

Staff is slated to return to the council with more financial information about the lease in the fall for approval.

The lease with Almquist is expected to be finalized in late 2025 or early 2026, Carmichael said, and Almquist is slated to start construction on the second phase within 90 days of lease execution.

Staff estimate that The Canopy will be complete and open to the public in late 2026 or early 2027.

“Together, we’re going to be able to put forth an amazing retail center moving forward,” Councilmember William Go said at the meeting. “We’re really excited and looking forward to when you guys come back with the full proposal as well.”

Angelina Hicks is the Voice of OC Collegiate News Service Editor. Contact her at ahicks@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @angelinahicks13.