The 43 acres of land that is largely referred to as the Queen Mary area has been in long need of a facelift, hence why Mayor Robert Garcia created the Queen Mary Land Development Task Force. Come tomorrow, the public is invited to attend a workshop that will not only provide insight into what the Task Force has achieved thus far but also provide an opportunity to feed input on future development of the area to the Task Force members themselves.
The free event is scheduled for Saturday, July 9, 2016, from 11:00AM to 1:00PM, at the First Congregational Church of Long Beach, 241 Cedar Avenue.
The workshop will feature an interactive presentation of the goals and objectives for future development of the Queen Mary leasehold area. The event will also offer the community and other stakeholders an opportunity to provide input on concepts and ideas to be included in a planning document that will outline guiding principles for development and use of the area surrounding the Queen Mary.
“Community involvement in this process is critical to the success of the future development of the area surrounding one of Long Beach’s most treasured assets,” said Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal.
In December 2015, the 12-member Task Force was appointed to establish an optimal approach for reimagining and developing the area around the ship, and engage the public in the development process. Over the past six months, the Task Force has held various outreach events, including a site tour and comprehensive planning and design workshops to solicit public input.
In November 2015, the City Council approved an Amended and Restated Queen Mary Master Lease and subsequent assignment to a new Master Lessee, Urban Commons, LLC, for the City-owned Queen Mary and adjacent shore side property. The Amended and Restated Lease provides the necessary modifications to attract new development, while also providing stronger support for the preservation and maintenance of the historic ship. This new lease provided a timely opportunity for a public visioning process to guide future development.
For more information about this event, contact Fern Nueno at 562-570-5081 or Fern.Nueno@longbeach.gov.