Brea Lofts open with sales; 19 units sold opening weekend
Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007
By JAIMEE LYNN FLETCHER
The Orange County Register
BREA — The South Brea Lofts went on sale June 23, and 19 units were sold in just two days.
The project includes 47 live/work lofts and 7,500 square feet of retail space, which may include a coffee or a sandwich shop.
Prices for the lofts start in the low- to mid-$700,000s and each resident will get their own GEM Neighborhood Electric Vehicle as part of the sale.
Work on the project began in March 2005 and is part of the city’s effort to revamp the look of South Brea.
The Spanish-style architecture was chosen by CWI Developers to complement the building in the area.
The 3-acre stretch on the 500 block of South Brea Boulevard was once home to a run-down strip mall with a drive-through dairy, a Chinese restaurant, a sewing and vacuum repair shop and a discount cigarette shop.
The site was originally owned by the CIM Group and the space was earmarked for a 68-unit apartment complex.
In February 2005, CIM pulled out of the deal and CWI Developers Inc., took over and introduced the live/work loft concept.
The lofts are intended to help cut down on traffic, save money and increase a business’ productivity, according to CWI President Kevin Weeda.
Many of the unit sit atop a 600-square-foot ground space, which may be used for an office, light retail or a service business.
Models are available for tours Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by appointment. Call 714-256-9006 for more information.
Models for South Brea Lofts up for viewing this month.
Monday, June 4th, 2007
By JAIMEE LYNN FLETCHER
The Orange County Register
BREA — The much anticipated South Brea Lofts project will be unveiled to the community June 23 – units will be up for sale and model tours will introduce residents to the site.
The project on the corner of Elm and Alder streets will house 47 lofts and about 7,500 of retail space. Each loft will be priced somewhere in the low to mid $700,000s.
Sales Manager Audrey Kelly said developer CWI is looking at a possible coffee shop, sandwich shop and a complimentary business service, such as a drop-off dry cleaners, to fill the retail space.
Kelly said no contracts have been signed yet.
Loft residents will also get an extra perk when they move in – a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle to tool around and run errands in the community.
South Brea Lofts is part of the city’s vision to revamp South Brea Boulevard. The 500 block was once home to a run-down strip mall anchored by a Chinese restaurant, a sewing machine and vacuum repair shop, a discount cigarette store and a drive-through dairy.
The project has received two awards for exemplary development, said City Planner David Crabtree.
The American Planning Association, Orange County Chapter selected the lofts as this year’s outstanding planning project for the county. The development will go on to compete at the state level.
The Southern California Association of Governments issued the lofts a housing award under its Compass Blueprint Award for exceptional planning and development.
The coming wave of high-rises, lofts and brownstones is changing the way you can live, work and play.
Tuesday, September 5th, 2006
By CYNTHIA RUPE and COURTNEY CROITORI
SqueezeOC.com
Kiss your commute goodbye and walk to work and back.
And then to the market. Or the movies or a bar.
Possible? Yes, and many Orange County residents are making this choice, moving to the cool, urban-style developments popping up across the county.
Spacious live-work lofts. Cozy brownstones. Towering luxury high-rises.
The residents, who range from young professionals to empty nesters, can experience a 24-hour “downtown” lifestyle, living close to business, malls, restaurants, galleries, and nightlife.
“What draws people out of suburbia into downtown is a lifestyle,” says Brian Lucas of Prime Urban, an urban development firm based in Santa Ana.
The city of Brea set off the trend in 1999 with its downtown facelift. The modern, colorful Birch Street Lofts allowed people to live above Birch Street Promenade, which is lined with shops and restaurants.
Downtown Santa Ana has also been undergoing an urban transformation, including the building of several artist lofts three years ago, several of which are currently on the market for about $700,000.
While a few of the projects around the county are complete, most are under construction or still dirt lots. However, most have waiting lists or are pre-selling their units. A few are rental communities.
One of the most ambitious projects is the 840-acre Platinum Triangle near Angel Stadium in Anaheim. Touted as “Orange County’s downtown,” it will offer 12 housing developments – lofts, flats, brownstones, and high-rise condo towers – as well as offices, restaurants, retail centers, and parks.
The Stadium Lofts, a sophisticated, stadium-themed condominium complex, is the first part of the Platinum Triangle to be completed.
A taller O.C. skyline will also be forming, with about 25 more high-rise residential tow in coming years, offering uptown-style living with a bird’s-eye view.
The first high-rise community in O.C., the Marquee Park Place in Irvine, was completed in February.
The Skyline at MacArthur, featuring two 25-story towers, is expected to be the tallest residential high-rise complex in Orange County. The luxury high-rise in South Coast Metro will offer residents resort-like perks including an on-site bank, six restaurants, a putting green, yoga studio and wine bar.
But if you’re hoping these urban options will help you to beat O.C.’s bulging home prices, you may be disappointed. Prices in the various communities range from the mid-$300,000s for a loft to $4 million for a high-rise penthouse.
Wondering if the urban lifestyle is right for you? We’ve talked in depth with a few urban dwellers to learn what urban living in Orange County is really like.
Saying goodbye; Brea’s economic development manager leaves the city after 20 years, but he won’t be far away.
Friday, August 4th, 2006
By JAIMEE LYNN FLETCHER
The Orange County Register
BREA – After 20 years of service, Brea’s Economic Development Manager Scott Riordan has said goodbye to City Hall and made his way to the private sector.
Riordan was an active member in the team that helped spearhead the transformation of Brea Downtown from the blighted area it once was to the hustling destination location it is today.
Although he is leaving, he isn’t going far.
Riordan accepted a job with Brea-based Manley Investments Management Co. – which he started Tuesday – to help continue the development of downtown.
“I’ll be able to work with the same people,” he said. “I’ll just be on the other side of the counter.”
Although Riordan said it was a difficult decision to leave Brea, he is looking forward to working with Dwight Manley, —-, to continue expanding Brea Downtown.
Question:What will you miss most about the city?
Answer: The people by far. Brea is a very entrepreneurial, innovative organization; that’s why many people stay for a long time.
It’s very difficult to leave. I just love Brea and I appreciate all the people who have helped me through the years.
Q:What is your proudest accomplishment in Brea?
A: Well there are a few things. I was the first full-time person to run the Curtis Theater, I’m really proud that. I was able to work with a group to make it more professional and we really made it a nice little theater.
Also, having an opportunity to be on the team to redevelop and revitalize downtown Brea. Brea has been recognized nationally for that.
Most recently, I am proud of the South Brea Lofts project. About four years ago, we had talked about buying that property and with that we assembled the whole block and now we have a nice development going up there. I’m really excited to see that project come up.
Q:What prompted you to leave the city?
A:I truly love downtown Brea. It’s a mini city within the city.
Dwight Manley is a real visionary and over the last few years he has been buying up a lot of the property down there. His vision is to make Brea Downtown as good as it can be and expand it.
He and I share that vision, and he needs somebody to be down there full-time.
It’s an exciting opportunity. I’ll have the opportunity to work up creative solutions, add additional retail and make Brea Downtown a mini urban village beyond what it is today.
Q: Was the fact that money is better in the private sector a factor in your decision making?
A:But that is not the main reason. Obviously being able to take care of my kids and family is important, but the money is not the reason.
Brea pays their employees very fair.
I am doing this because of the new and exciting challenges that this job will bring. I’m really excited to work with new resources and contacts to make things happen.
Q: Are there any specific projects that you are looking forward to pursuing in your new position?
A:There is a couple. Dwight is looking to lease the property from the city for the parking structure behind the movie theaters to add additional retail space.
He wants to put retail on the ground floor so there will be stores right on Brea Boulevard. So we will pursue that.
Also, he has been talking to the current owner of the Gateway Center, but this is a more long-term project.
We hopefully want to obtain an interest in that center, upgrade it and intensify it with additional retail or house.
But that is a seven- to 10-year project.
There are lots of hurdles to overcome, but nothing that’s impossible.
Groundbreaking for South Brea Lofts kicks off area re-do; Project will set the tone for area south of Imperial, mayor says.
Wednesday, March 15th, 2006
By JAIMEE LYNN FLETCHER
A groundbreaking ceremony today – a private event for people who worked on the project and some special guests – marks the beginning of the renovation of South Brea Boulevard.
It starts with the 500-block, 3-acre stretch that was once home to a run-down strip mall housing a Chinese restaurant, a sewing machine and vacuum repair shop, a discount cigarette store and a drive-through dairy.
All have been leveled to make room for the South Brea Lofts, a 47-unit project with 75,000 feet of retail space between Elm and Alder streets.
Mayor Roy Moore said the lofts, which will be developed by CWI Developers Inc., will set the trend for the rest of the street, south of Imperial Highway – to the north, redevelopment went much larger with the Brea Downtown.
“I think this project will establish the direction of South Brea Boulevard, so I’m quite positive,” he said. “I have good vibes about CWI because they’ve taken a lot of interest in the neighborhood.”
CWI President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Weeda said connecting with neighbors to get feedback is a company philosophy that helps create successful projects.
“We are very proactive in reaching out to the community and are sensitive to their responses,” he said. “We want to impact the local community in a positive way.”
Some residents were nervous that the height of the complex wouldn’t fit with the look of the area and parking for retail spaces would cause a problem, Weeda said.
CWI addressed the issues and shaped its plan to accommodate residents’ concerns, he said.
One way CWI will accommodate resident’s concerns is to turn an old used car lot behind the lofts project into a parking lot for the stores.
Next, the city looks forward to the development of the 2-acre parcel directly across from the lofts site, previously home to an auto repair shop, a used car dealership, an insurance building and some old homes.
Scott Riordan, assistant planner of economic development, said he speculates that the property will also include some kind of condominium complex.
In April 2003, the city hired the CIM Group – the company that helped develop Downtown Brea – to construct a three-story complex with 68 apartments and 2,700 feet of commercial space on the property.
However, in February 2005, CIM pulled out of the $13 million contract, naming the escalating prices of materials as the reason.
Moore said the Olsen Co. has recently shown interest in the site and has some kind of agreement with CIM to buy the property.
“It appears that they want to develop something similar to the lofts,” he said. “They met with local neighbors last week to talk about possible projects.”
He added that the nearby shopping center, Brea Heights, is not planned for a rehabilitation. But he said the council may change its mind after the two development projects are complete.
“We thought the building looked fine,” he said. “Façade improvements are not included in these plans, but they’re not precluded either.”
Construction for the South Brea Lofts, which will cost roughly $26 million to $28 million, is expected to begin by the end of the month, depending on the weather, and will take about a year to complete.
The lofts will be up for sale this summer, Riordan said.
CWI sparked the city’s interest with its work in Newport Beach on Lido Island.
“The Cannery Lofts was a very successful project,” Riordan said. “We selected the best to do the job.”
Riordan added that the Brea Lofts will not replicate the modern style of Newport’s Cannery Lofts, but he said he believes the project will be similarly successful.
“The lofts will be Spanish-style architecture pulling from some of the themes of the city,” he said.
Weeda added that the style of the complex will encompass the general feel of Brea.
“One of the reasons we chose this architecture is because it ties into the prominent pieces of history in Brea,” he said. “We think we did the appropriate thing by choosing that style.”
Dairy set for demolition Wednesday
Wednesday, February 8th, 2006
By JAIMEE LYNN FLETCHER
Star-Progress
Huibert’s Dairy, a drive-through store that offered a quick stop for grocery necessities, was expected to be demolished Wednesday at 1 p.m. It is the last building to be razed on the 500 block of South Brea Boulevard to prepare the three-acre site for the South Brea Lofts, a $13 million project, which includes a 47-unit apartment complex with 7,500 feet of commercial space.