Irvine officials are looking to connect the Great Park to the nearby Irvine Train Station and Spectrum Center by developing a mix of housing, retail, hotel and commercial sites — with an emphasis on walkability.
The city acquired a 35-acre piece of land known as the Crescent site through a land swap with Heritage Fields last year.
The land swap set the stage to create a new neighborhood with approximately 1,150 residents units of varying types. Ideas for the site also include creating a walkable, mixed-use district anchored by a main street and surrounded by the residential developments as well as retail sites, offices and hotels.
Staff asked city officials to approve initial conceptual designs for the Crescent site during their Tuesday night meeting last week, but leaders decided to kick any decisions about next steps until the new year — giving the new council opportunity to weigh in on the project.
During this year’s general election, Irvine could get up to four new council members.
The new council is expected to take up the discussion during a meeting on Jan. 12, 2027.
During last week’s meeting, council members voted 4-3 to kick the discussion to next year, with Councilmembers Betty Martinez Franco, Melinda Liu and Kathleen Treseder voting no.
Councilmember Mike Carroll proposed kicking the project to January, saying he supports the development but has reservations over the timing being so close to election night.
“These mega decisions being made on the eve of election is not something that I’m accustomed to,” Carroll said at the meeting. “I don’t think it’s fair to the people of Irvine.”
“I’m all for the Crescent. I think this is a wonderful project,” he added. “I just think, from a process perspective, four of us may not be here after Tuesday; all four of us may be here after Tuesday.”
Staff also explained that the initial design includes a pedestrian land bridge that extends over Marine Way, leading to the Crescent site that could also include restaurants and two hotels in addition to housing and office buildings.
City staff also said that consulting costs could be a few million dollars over the next few years before any development can begin. Staff will also need to conduct an environmental review.
Councilmember Treseder voiced support for the project design because of its connection to transit and opportunities for affordable housing.
“I think this design is really exciting. I’m a big fan of transit-oriented development,” Treseder said during the meeting.
“It’s absolutely important that we do this for this city,” she added. “I’ve heard a lot of interest from the public about developing this particular area. I like the fact that you are approaching this with potentially putting in a downtown destination environment, which is great. It’s also a way for us to advance our affordable housing goals.”
Staff also gave a rough estimate of project revenue, saying hotel taxes, sales taxes and property taxes — in addition to a ground lease or land sale — could generate about $75 to $150 million for the city.
It comes as city leaders grapple with a rocky budget that’s estimated to reach an annual $37 million deficit by July 1, 2028. That deficit could increase to $47 million by the end of the decade if spending doesn’t slow down.
City staff is currently pursuing long-term budget adjustments that aim to decrease spending by $27 million and increase revenue by $10 million by 2028 to try and get the city’s financial outlook back on track.
Councilmember James Mai said he also supported the Crescent project but voiced concern about overspending, adding the project needs to have a guaranteed revenue source before the city keeps spending on things like consultants.
“What I see right now is a lot of slides,” he said at the meeting.
“I hate to frame it like this, but a lot of people have said that the Great Park has been a cash register for consultants.”
Mai also said he had no problem sending this item to the new city council so they can pay close attention to costs to ensure the city doesn’t lose money.
“The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
