ANAHEIM, CA—This has been a year of explosive development in Downtown Anaheim. In the spring, Brookfield Residential welcomed its first move-ins to the Domain, a community of 100 stacked flats and townhomes. In May, the Packing House opened—a new food hall and a leader in the restaurant-oriented Packing District. Most recently, an eight-story, 191,556-square-foot, class-A building near City Hall was leased to St. Joseph Heritage Healthcare, comprising Orange County's largest lease of the year to date, as GlobeSt.com previously reported. To get a sense of what led to this progress, we spoke with John Woodhead, Anaheim's director of community and economic development.
GlobeSt.com: Can you describe the planning that led to these successes?
Woodhead: The vision for the Packing District emerged over more than a decade, with the City navigating several planning and approval steps along the way. The retail centerpiece is Anaheim's 1919 Packing House, which originally transported Sunkist oranges to the rest of the US. The City wanted the Packing House to offer an authentically Anaheim urbanism, growing organically with independent vendors and helping to attract new residents.
The two-level structure now features a central atrium with communal dining surrounded by cafes and kiosks. It includes outdoor picnic gardens, a dining porch looking over adjacent Farmers Park, and live entertainment. The building is nominated for National Register of Historic Places designation. The Packing House's 28 gourmet food-and-beverage vendors and merchants are curated by LAB Holding, which has had huge retail success else in Orange County at the Lab Anti-mall and the Camp in Costa Mesa.
GlobeSt.com: What is the role of new housing in the district?
Woodhead: Almost simultaneously with the opening of the Packing House, another crucial puzzle piece opened directly across the street. The Greater Los Angeles division of Brookfield Residential welcomed its first move-ins to the Domain, a new community whose residents use the Packing House, Farmers Park and the rest of the city center as unique amenities. The Domain raises to approximately 1,500 the number of new homes in Downtown Anaheim. Like the Packing House, the Domain has been a tremendous success—well over 50% sold—and Brookfield actively incorporates the Packing District into its marketing. We now have 24-hour activity in the neighborhood, which further propels revitalization.
GlobeSt.com: Why is commercial-office use important to your plan?
Woodhead: It brings a crucial third use to our downtown. This eight-story, class-A building was completely vacant after having been the local operations hub for AT&T. Now, St. Joseph Heritage will bring its healthcare administration services here, with about 800 employees. That puts 800 more people on Center St., which is the other major retail center in Downtown Anaheim. Like the new residents, these new office workers will help activate Center St. retail, also curated by LAB Holding and also offering independent, artisanal vendors. This large lease validates our vision of a vibrant center for Orange County's largest city and proves the attractiveness of what some call a “foodie district,” with restaurants, park space and homes.
GlobeSt.com: Did you always envision the Packing House to be a regional tourist destination?
Woodhead: The City has long recognized the building as an architectural cornerstone for its 25-year guide for downtown development. Residences were crucial to our goal of achieving street life after 5 p.m. At one point, there was even thought of converting the Packing House to condominium use, and the City worked closely with Brookfield Residential to shore up the structure.
We studied the successful reuse of historic places such as the Ferry Building in San Francisco and New York's Chelsea Market. The Packing House is also reminiscent of the grand public markets of Europe and South America. It is now becoming a West Coast destination along the lines of Los Angeles' Grand Central Market, the Ferry Building and Seattle's Pike Place Market.
GlobeSt.com: What's next for the Downtown district?
Woodhead: We continue to expand the concept of the “foodie district.” The City is again partnering with LAB Holding to develop the 1917 former marmalade factory across Santa Ana St. from the Packing House and adjacent to the final phase of the Domain homes. This approximately 12,600-square-foot building will be transformed into a brewery, whisky distillery and winery. The City is also planning a comprehensive branding and way-finding effort to direct foot and auto traffic and to further knit together parts of the district. And street life will be enhanced through public art and pedestrian-friendly street improvements.
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Carrie Rossenfeld
Carrie Rossenfeld is a reporter for the San Diego and Orange County markets on GlobeSt.com and a contributor to Real Estate Forum. She was a trade-magazine and newsletter editor in New York City before moving to Southern California to become a freelance writer and editor for magazines, books and websites. Rossenfeld has written extensively on topics including commercial real estate, running a medical practice, intellectual-property licensing and giftware. She has edited books about profiting from real estate and has ghostwritten a book about starting a home-based business.
