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The Missing Link
Pacific City development brings ‘place-making’ to Huntington Beach
By David Silva
 Michael Gagnet, executive vice president of development for Makar Properties LLC, calls the company’s massive Pacific City project in Huntington Beach both a bold step into the future and a respectful nod to the past.
The 31-acre mixed-use development on Pacific Coast Highway and First Street is evolutionary in that it represents “the missing link” connecting two major coastal venues the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach and the Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort Hotel to the city’s bustling downtown, Gagnet says.
It also represents a salute to the city’s past in that “Pacific City” was the name Huntington Beach pioneer Philip Stanton originally envisioned for the town.
“Then Henry Huntington came along and the city was named Huntington Beach,” says Gagnet, whose company is based in Newport Beach. “We’re bringing back Stanton’s dream that was envisioned 100 years ago.”
Makar’s interpretation of that dream is divided into two districts: a commercial district fronting Pacific Coast Highway, made up of 191,000 sq ft of high-end retail shops and office space, and 48,900 sq ft of restaurant space; and a 17-acre residential district of 424 luxury condominium units ranging in size from 1,000-sq-ft, two-story and 3,000-sq-ft, four-story models, all stacked above private parking facilities. Other amenities include two spas and barbecue areas for residents, and a two-acre community park, which will be open to the general public.
Gagnet, who would not disclose the dollar value of the project, says the development would be constructed to maximize ocean views.
“The trend across the development industry is shifting to ‘place-making,’” Gagnet adds. “What we’re seeing is people like to live, work and play in the same area. This is one of the last available stretches of oceanfront property in Orange County, and so it made a lot of sense to continue that trend here.”
Pacific City will also contain Orange County’s first W Hotel. Owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., the luxury facility will feature 250 units, 92 of which will be available for private ownership. It will also have a fine-dining restaurant, spa, two outdoor pools and 11,000 sq ft of meeting space.
Construction of the parking and retail portion of Pacific City started in winter 2006; work on the residential district began in the spring of last year. Residential units in the first phase of development are scheduled to open in late 2009, while the retail portion has a mid-2009 opening date. The W Hotel should open its doors in summer 2010 -- about the same time that the entire Pacific City development should be built out, Gagnon says.
KKE Architects of Irvine and MBH Architects of Newport Beach are the project architects for the hotel, and KTGY Group of Irvine is architect for the residential and residential portion of the project.
Rocky Shen, design director for KTGY, says city officials wanted “the overall look of the project to be a Mediterranean style. The majority of the project will have tile roofs. The first residential phase will have warm, white colors with plaster and railings that are a kind of dark bronze. There will be accents of ceramic tile in some of the landscaped areas, and water features will dot the project.”
The Project Team
Owner/Developer: Makar Properties LLC, Newport Beach
General Contractor: Bayley Construction, Santa Ana
Architects: KKE Architects, Irvine, and MBH Architects, Newport Beach (hotel); KTGY Group, Irvine (residential and retail)
Interior Designer: Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, Los Angeles
Landscaping Subcontractor: Lifescapes International, Newport
Location, Location
Tallest WorldMark to open near Disneyland
By David Silva
 When it opens in the fall, the $70 million WorldMark Anaheim will represent a big “first” and another really big “almost.”
The 14-story, 342,990-sqft project will be the tallest Wyndham Vacation Ownership resort in the company’s 58-resort chain. And, at 168 ft tall, it will miss out by a mere 10 ft from becoming the tallest building in Orange County. Stack a couple of air-conditioning units on the roof and the building would make history.
“This is considered by us to be the premier WorldMark project,” says Jim Noetzelman, senior director of product development for Wyndham, based in Redmond, Wash. “It’s something we’ve never done before -- a high-rise WorldMark. Given its location, near the new mall on Katella Avenue that just opened last month, we’re seeing a tremendous level of excitement about it.”
Located on Katella Avenue and Zeyn Street within walking distance of Disneyland, WorldMark Anaheim will feature 230 condominium units ranging in size from studios to three bedrooms, and 12 two- to four-bedroom presidential suites on the top two floors. Onsite amenities include an outdoor swimming pool, children’s pool, exercise facility, game room and rooftop deck where guests can wade in any one of three bubbling spas or watch the fireworks show above the Magic Kingdom. The hotel will also have a five level parking garage.
Wyndham Vacation Ownership resorts operate by the time-share system: “Owners” purchase points from the company, which they use to book stays at a Wyndham chain.
“When the (Wyndham) folks did the initial site selection, they looked for a location that would generate a lot of excitement for our owners,” says Noetzelman. “(The Katella) location was available and didn’t require any demolition. It was just a vacant lot, which makes things easier for us.”
Construction started in July 2006, and the resort is expected to open in October. Swinerton Builders of Irvine is the general contractor, and Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects of Seattle is project architect.
Noetzelman says the project’s proximity to Disneyland meant that it had to blend in with the theme park.
“With Anaheim’s site restrictions and requirements, you can’t just build a big, white box,” he adds. “There’s specific amenities and design features that have to be incorporated in the project. The city wanted something that’s going to contribute to the aesthetics of the surrounding area.”
Another challenge presented itself in 2005 when WorldMark’s parent, Wyndham Worldwide, underwent a series of corporate changes that resulted in the Anaheim project essentially “flying on autopilot” for a time, says Swinerton project manager Sumesh Behl.
“We took it upon ourselves to make sure things were submitted to the city and that we were in constant contact with city officials to make sure the project stayed on track,” Behl says. “Given that Wyndham was going through strategic changes we actually helped the project along so that, with all their projects going on, this would be the least of their worries.”
The Project Team
Owner/Developer: Wyndham Vacation Ownership Resorts, Redmond, Wash.
General Contractor: Irvine offices of Swinerton Builders.
Project Architect: Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects, Seattle
Mechanical Subcontractor: ACCO Engineered Systems, Irvine
Framing and Plaster Subcontractor: Rice Drywall Inc., South El Monte
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