New Place to Live in Laguna Niguel: 'The Career Lofts' at The Gateway

It looks like construction could begin this year at a new place for prospective residents of Laguna Niguel to hang a "home-sweet-home sign," if the  approves the plans on Tuesday, June 12.

Called , to be located at the Laguna Niguel Gateway Specific Plan area, it includes 142-units proposed for the former Spoons/Black Angus site at located at 21800 Cabot Road. The project is anticipated to include four stories of residential units over two levels of parking. A total of 97 one-bedroom and 45 two-bedroom units ranging in size from 707 to 1,406 square feet are proposed.

The Gateway Specific project at the corner of Crown Valley Parkway and Forbes Road has been 15 years in the making

The lofts project design includes a contemporary style of architecture and will complement the adjacent 6-story Crown Cabot Financial office building.  A variety of high-quality amenities including a pool/spa, fitness and club house rooms, roof decks, barbecue areas, and other features are included for the residents. 

"This is an exciting project in that it will be the first residential project under the recently approved  and will help start the transformation of the area to a more pedestrian and transit-oriented urban village," said Dan Fox, community development director. "It will also develop a site that has been continually plagued by trespass, vandalism, and graffiti since the former restaurants vacated the site in 1996."

He explained that in November, the Laguna Niguel City Council approved the Gateway Specific Plan to allow for up to 2,994 dwelling units and 2.26 million square feet of retail, office, entertainment, hotel and other non-residential uses in the 315+ acre area in proximity to the Metrolink station. The Specific Plan results in about 28 percent fewer average daily vehicle trips than would have been generated under the previous plans for the area.

In May, the for a jurisdiction with a population under 100,000, by the Orange Section of the California Chapter of the American Planning Association, a non-profit organization representing over 600 professional planners in southern California devoted to advancing the science of physical, economic, environmental, and social planning at the local, regional, state, and national levels.  

"The applicant has indicated that if they receive approval from the Planning Commission on Tuesday, they are hopeful to start construction later this year," Fox said.

For further details about the project click here.