The vacant lot at 402 Atlantic Ave. in Downtown Long Beach could look very different. Currently used as a parking lot, the former Mobil gas station site—which was cleaned up in 2014—could be home to a seven-story, 82-unit apartment complex, as first reported by Urbanize LA.
Overall, the architecture can best be described as contemporary California urbanism. There’s a blend of modern residential design, hospitality-inspired amenities, and warm coastal materials mixed with nods to art deco and mid-century modern aesthetics.
What is being proposed for 402 Atlantic Ave.?
Reaching 91 feet in height, this 77,348-square-foot, 82-unit project will feature 10 very low-income units—12% of its total new units—and 82 parking stalls on a 22,500-square-foot lot.
At the street level, the building is anchored by a multi-story podium wrapped in vertical metal fins and extensive glazing, creating an active pedestrian experience.
Retail spaces and transparent storefronts help animate the sidewalks, while landscaped setbacks, mature street trees, and generous corner treatments soften the project’s urban presence. Rounded corners and layered terraces further reduce the structure’s visual bulk, making it feel more welcoming than monolithic.
The development’s upper levels are designed around outdoor living and shared community spaces. A large elevated courtyard features a resort-style pool deck, lounge areas, and extensive landscaping. And the rooftop? Covered with terraces matched by balconies that create opportunities for indoor-outdoor living throughout the project. From above, the building forms a courtyard configuration that maximizes natural light and open space for residents while screening activity from the surrounding streets.
402 Atlantic Ave. is one of the boldest proposals in a development field that has felt redundant or outright boring.
Reflecting the boldness of projects like the Alexan West End and eschewing the awfully uninspiring aesthetic of the senior living complex at 3rd Street and Alamitos Avenue, the Studio T-Square-designed proposal for 402 Atlantic Ave. is refreshingly unique.
It blends modern urban density with softened, resort-inspired design elements. Rather than relying on a single architectural language, like the Alexan West End, the building is composed of several interconnected masses. And with it, create visual variety. That, in turn, helps to scale down what would otherwise be a rather towering residential complex for that corner.
The most striking feature is the contrast between the darker charcoal-clad residential tower at the corner and the warmer, rounded volumes that wrap portions of the podium and upper levels. The charcoal wing employs a sleek, modern aesthetic, with curved glass corners, vertical window openings, and recessed balconies.
Adjacent to it, the lighter-toned sections introduce warmth through bronze- and champagne-colored metal screening, textured façades, and softly curved forms that evoke the streamlined architecture of Southern California’s Art Deco and Mid-Century Modern heritage.
