Downtown Project Brings More Housing, Green Space and Walkable Streets 

A long-anticipated housing development project in Downtown Long Beach is getting a fresh start, bringing hundreds of new apartments, green space and pedestrian-friendly walkways to the Civic Center area.

A privately-owned development formerly known as the Mid-Block project was originally slated for construction in 2020 at the site of the former Long Beach City Hall but stalled due to rising construction costs and funding challenges. Now a reimagined proposal, tentatively called 321 W Ocean after its address on Ocean Boulevard, is moving ahead with a design that prioritizes more housing opportunities and financial feasibility.

The updated development will bring 729 new apartments to the heart of downtown, offering a mix of studio, one, two and three-bedroom homes. This is a significant increase from the original plan for 580 units. The new plan also significantly decreases the number of studios and increases the number of larger units, to better reflect market demand.

The project will also reshape how people move through the area. Cedar Avenue will be transformed into a wide, pedestrian-friendly paseo, creating an inviting public space that connects Broadway to Ocean Boulevard. A second pedestrian-only paseo between the new buildings will link the Civic Center to Lincoln Park, enhancing walkability and creating new opportunities for community gathering.

The redesigned project also reflects a thoughtful balance between scale, cost and community use. Plans now include a more modest 2,651 square feet of ground-floor retail, responding to shifts in the retail landscape, and a streamlined parking design with 817 spaces and 365 bike spaces. Updated building materials, such as plaster, tile and composite wood, help reduce costs while maintaining a modern, high-quality look. Each apartment building will have a courtyard, pool, sky lounge and a gym.

The City and the developer made their original agreement before the City’s Inclusionary Housing Ordinance was adopted in 2021, requiring that 12% of units in major new developments be reserved for low-income residents. In April 2026, City Council voted to honor terms of the original agreement, which requires the developer to set aside 10% of 321 W Ocean for moderate-income residents. Because of the increase in total number of units, the project now will offer 73 affordable units instead of the original plan's 58.

Since 2024, the City of Long Beach has opened five major affordable housing developments and currently has four more in construction. All of those serve low-income residents or people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, since that has been the most urgent need. However, the City is required by the state to set aside units for moderate-income residents too, and 321 W Ocean will work toward that goal. Currently, the City has permitted only a small fraction of the moderate-income housing needed to meet its state-mandated targets. This project will help close a critical gap—supporting the residents who are essential to the community but often priced out of the local housing market.

This development is the final piece of the Civic Center Master Plan, a years-long effort to reimagine downtown Long Beach as a more connected, vibrant and accessible urban core. Over the past several years, the area has seen the completion of several key projects, including the new City Hall, Main Library and Port Administration Building in 2019, a 163-unit residential development at 230 W. 3rd Street in 2020, the revitalized Lincoln Park in 2022 and the Public Safety Parking Garage in 2023.

Together, these investments have transformed the Civic Center and this latest housing project will help bring even more energy and activity to the area. As Long Beach continues to grow, projects like this play an important role in creating a more balanced downtown landscape—one that expands housing and creates a successful business district where residents can live, work and thrive.