Lakeside Community

Projects & Success Stories
The following is a brief list of projects and success stories in each of the project areas:

Outback Steakhouse - On the site of a former Coco's restaurant, the Agency assisted a developer in bringing a first-class restaurant to the City's E-Zone. An Outback Steakhouse and a uniquely-designed Burger King replace a restaurant that had been vacant for more than two years and an empty lot that had formerly been the site of a service station. The new restaurants complement the existing choices in the E-Zone, including Claim Jumper, Fuddruckers, McDonalds, Sagan, TGI Fridays, Togos, Black Angus, Denny's, Knott's Chicken Dinnerhouse, and Quiznos.

Lakeside Community - With the help of the Agency, Catellus Residential Group, Inc., William Lyon Homes, The Olson Company, and Pulte Homes transformed a 70 acre vacant parcel into a 350 home community built around a 7 acre, man-made lake. The development has provided for housing opportunities to all categories of homeowners, ranging from moderate-income families in townhomes, to upper middle-class buyers of lakeside homes.

Transit Village - Working in partnership with Cal State University, Fullerton and the County of Orange, the Agency developed a community of 86 single-family homes adjacent to the site of the future MetroLink commuter rail station. The homes range in size from 1,360 square feet to 1,600 square feet, and were marketed exclusively to nationally-recruited professors and the existing faculty and staff of the University.  On the south side of the rail platform at the intersection of Artesia and Dale Streets, The Olson Company has begun construction of its Founders Walk development. The 194 unit complex will feature attached and detached single-family homes, numerous upscale amenities, and direct access to the MetroLink station.  The rail station, which is currently under construction, will feature platforms for northbound and southbound travel and 300 parking spaces. The project will serve as a model for future transit-oriented housing developments in the County and State.

	Buena Park Auto Center

Auto Center - The Agency has successfully worked with several first-class auto dealers in the Buena Park Auto Center to expand their businesses. Current dealers include Ken Grody Ford, Shelly BMW, House of Imports Mercedes, Buena Park Toyota, Buena Park Nissan, Buena Park Honda, and Simpson Buick Pontiac GMC.

Shelly BMW and House of Imports have both begun expansions of their showroom and service facilities. Construction is scheduled for completion in 2006.

CarMax - In 2004, CarMax opened its 12 acre pre-owned automobile superstore in Buena Park. Located on Manchester Boulevard at the north end of the Buena Park Auto Center, the facility maintains over 200 quality automobiles on site. CarMax's unique method of no-haggle pricing and their newer-model inventory ensure a successful car-buying experience.

Buena Park Downtown - If you've been around the Buena Park Mall lately, you may have noticed that about one million square feet of mall space has recently been renovated. Over the past few years, retailers like Steve & Berry's University Sportswear, Pac Sun, Anchor Blue, Ross Dress For Less, Bed Bath & Beyond and DSW Shoe Warehouse have been added to the mall. The expanding restaurant selection at the Mall includes Chili's and Pat & Oscar's. The excitement doesn’t end there, as an additional 200,000 square foot entertainment complex has been added to replace the former J.C. Penney’s store.

	Portillo’s - Chicago’s Famous Hot Dogs

This new entertainment complex, called “The District” is anchored by a 90,000 square foot, state-of-the-art cinema complex built by Krikorian Premiere Theaters. With 18 wall-to-wall screens and roomy stadium seating, every seat is the best seat in the house! A combination of themed restaurants, specialty retail and entertainment venues round out a fun night out at Park Central. These choices include Powerhouse, Cold Stone Creamery, Asia Buffet, Boba Loca, and Sbarro Cafe.

Portillo's - Chicago's famous hot dogs are now served in Buena Park! Portillo's which rhymes with “pillows,” has opened its first restaurant outside the Chicago area. The new eatery is located in Buena Park Downtown on the La Palma frontage next to Pat and Oscar’s.

Menu offerings include a variety of sandwiches including house specialties hot dogs and Italian beef, as well as salads, side dishes, desserts, wine, and beer. Patrons have three ways to go—drive through, order to take out, or eat in the restaurant to enjoy the old-time ambience.

Wal-Mart - Wal-Mart constructed a 175,000 square foot discount superstore at the site of the former Fedco department store and is available to meet all of your shopping needs.

	Park Place

Park Place - Adjacent to Buena Park Downtwon is a shopping center that has been predominantly vacant for a number of years. The Agency attracted a Circuit City electronics store to the site. Joining Circuit City are Kohl's Department Store, Michael's, PetsMart and Office Depot. Restaurant choices include Philly's Best, Panda Express, Juice It Up!, Carl's Jr, Starbuck's, Subway and Golden Spoon Yogurt.

Lincoln and Valley View Shopping Center - The Agency helped redevelop an existing, dilapidated shopping center into an attractive development. New tenants include a Albertsons Food Store, Sav-On Drugs, Hollywood Video, Boston Market, and a bagel shop. The existing Pic-N-Save was also remodeled in conjunction with construction of the new facility.

Lincoln Avenue and Holder Street Homes - On the site of a former drive-in movie theater, John Laing Homes developed 224 housing units, including 114 single-family homes and 110 detached condominiums.

Former Nabisco Factory Site - The Redevelopment Agency is working with the new owners of the former Nabisco Factory site to rezone the property to allow automobile dealerships and retail commercial uses.  The Agency and Centra Realty, the new owners, are in negotiations with national big box retail tenants to anchor the freeway-adjacent site.  Construction of the site is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2006 and be completed approximately one year later.

Dorado Senior Apartments - After several years of applying for tax credit financing through the State of California,  the Dorado Senior Apartments project on Stanton Avenue near Crescent Avenue recently received its financing approval.  The Agency has been working with Simpson Housing, Meta Housing, and the County of Orange to develop the 150-unit apartment complex that will be marketed exclusively to low-income seniors in the community.  The units, which are a mixture of one and two bedroom apartments, will be rented to seniors aged 55 or older who earn less than 60% of the Orange County Median Family Income.  For more information and to be put on the first-come, first-served waiting list, call (800) 290-0277.

Utah Avenue Homes - On excess land purchased from CalTrans after the I-5 Freeway widening project, the Redevelopment Agency worked with KTK Construction to develop eight single-family homes.  The one and two-story units were sold to families earning less than 120% of the Orange County Median Family Income.

Shops at Buena Park - On the site of the former Sequoia Conference Center, the Redevelopment Agency worked with Target Stores and United Growth to create the Shops at Buena Park. Tenants at the new power center include Target, Payless Shoe Source, Game Stop, Team Mobile, Wendy's Restaurant, and Ortho Mattress.

Buena Park Marketplace - Working with Red Mountain Retail, the Agency assisted in the redevelopment of a former Kmart store and several adjacent shops. The completely redesigned center is anchored by Marshall's, Jo-Ann's Fabrics & Crafts, dd's Discounts, and several smaller stores.

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