400 Oceangate building in Downtown Long Beach proposed as 275-unit complex

The high-rise at 400 Oceangate, which used to be owned by (and home to) Long Beach law firm Keesal, Young & Logan, faces a new future. Developers want the Planning Commission to entitle a conversion of the building into a 200-unit residential space. An additional project to construct 75 units on the adjoining three-story parking lot is also proposed.

What, exactly, is the 400 Oceangate development?

As first reported by Urbanize LA, the project is being led by Long Beach design firm Studio One Eleven. The nationally recognized firm will tackle the two major aspects of the project. FIrstly, the adaptive re-use of 400 Oceangate, Then, the creation of a 75-unit residential building atop the parking structure just east of 400 Oceangate.

“The existing 14-story tower and garage is about saving and reuse,” said Studio One Eleven principal Michael Bohn. “We are excited to convert a post-pandemic, underutilized office building into a vibrant residential community. Between 400 Oceangate and our West Gateway development, over 1000 homes will be added to a sleepy office district. The project transforms it into a vibrant mixed-use district.”

The 14-level adaptive reuse building will be remodeled into 200 dwelling units. This includes seven two-story living units along the first floor, six of which will be facing Golden Shore. The rest of the unit will be spread across floors three through 14. They include 66 studio units, 70 one-bedroom units, and 64 two-bedroom units.

What will be the project’s amenities and how will be the units look?

The remainder of the first floor has a trash room, utility/room, mechanical equipment areas, amenity space, offices, a mail room, lobby/lounge area, juice bar, and gym. The second-floor mezzanine includes utility and mechanical equipment space and additional gym space. The third floor, in addition to units, will have an interior amenity space. It will provide access to a pedestrian bridge to the outdoor amenity space at the top of the parking structure. Each unit in the adaptive reuse building units will include stackable washer/dryers and full kitchens. Some of the larger units, although not all units, will have linen closets, walk-in closets in bedrooms, kitchens with islands, and dining areas.

“We are excited to work with the City of Long Beach and Placeworks to help reimagine the Downtown waterfront and update the existing code, which hasn’t changed in over 30 years,” said Shruti Shankar of Studio One Eleven. “This is an opportunity to think big and bold about the future, address the community’s aspirations, and stitch the Downtown Shoreline back into the city to be an inclusive waterfront metropolis.”

This project will not include any affordable units as the Downtown section it sits within is not under the City’s inclusionary ordinance.

Between the Alexan West End and the Ocean Village residential projects, the entire west end of Downtown Long Beach could look significantly different. Not only will it likely be more active with foot traffic but it will also be more inviting for visitors.

400 Oceangate faces the Planning Commission for entitlement on Thursday, Sept. 5.