LAGUNA HILLS, CA-The City of Laguna Hills has approved the entitlement package for the redesign of six buildings for Oakbrook Village, a 1980s-built shopping center owned by Fritz Duda Co. Nadel Architects will renovate and expand the shopping center at 24391 Avenida de la Carlota here, transforming it into a high-end, mixed-use leisure destination for local shoppers.
The $80-million to $90-million project is an integral part of the City of Laguna Hills Urban Village Specific Plan. “In addition to meeting the city's Urban Village Specific Plan requirements, our goal was to increase the density and consumer activity on the site,” said Greg James, Nadel's project director, in a prepared statement. “Our design incorporates a lot of public space and encourages more streetscape activities with areas for concerts and a paseo running throughout. The main-street feel and pedestrian-oriented layout will create an experience that the community will enjoy.”
Tentatively set for completion in 2016, Oakbrook Village is located on a 20-acre site near the 405 Freeway and the Laguna Hills Mall and consists of 132,200 square feet of retail space and a 483,837-square-foot multifamily residential building. As the architect for the retail portion, Nadel's role in the major renovation project includes demolishing current retail space that will be replaced by a mixed-use apartment building, relocating all current tenants, renovating the exterior of the remaining existing retail portion and allocating space for additional restaurant and retail pads.
Design changes include a new entry tower for a Trader Joe's, as well as upgrades to the exterior finishes and site lighting of the existing buildings. Nadel is also redesigning the monument and pylon signs on the site. The redesign will also incorporate many customer-oriented features, including plazas, fountains and community gathering places. Stores in the center include Marshall's, Calico Home and Roadrunner Sports; restaurants include El Torito Grill, Lone Star Steak House, Woody's Diner, Mandarin Terrace, Kotobuki Sushi and Break of Dawn.
The multifamily portion of Oakbook Village will consist of 289 units and will provide amenities including a fitness center, a clubhouse, a pool and several courtyards and plazas. “This new village will not only be a great amenity to the community of Laguna Hills, but it also fills a residential void,” said Ryan Jones, southwest region VP of real estate for Fritz Duda, in the statement. “We really wanted to make a space for individuals who value urban living and want all their entertainment, eatery and errand needs to be within walking distance from their residence.”
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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.
