Orange County is about to witness a transformative development that could change the landscape of Costa Mesa and Santa Ana. Affiliates of C.J. Segerstrom & Sons, the firm behind the South Coast Plaza development, the country’s largest luxury shopping center, have submitted plans for The Village Santa Ana. This mixed-use project could become one of the most significant developments in Orange County in several decades.
The Village Santa Ana will span a sprawling 17.2-acre site directly across the street from South Coast Plaza, making it a prominent addition to the area. According to a report in the Orange County Business Journal, the project is designed to accommodate 1,583 residential units, up to 300,000 square feet of office space, and up to 80,000 square feet of retail space. The report estimates that if all elements align with the high-end aesthetics characteristic of the Segerstrom family’s portfolio, the completed development could approach an estimated value of $1.5 billion.
Renderings of The Village Santa Ana project reveal a blend of low-rise, mid-rise, and high-rise buildings, emphasizing a commitment to modern architectural diversity.
The revamped Village Santa Ana site is set to be heavily pedestrian-oriented, aligning with the city’s vision to transform conventional auto-oriented shopping centers into vibrant hubs that foster healthy living, working, shopping, and dining in a contemporary village environment. The project will be developed through a partnership with Hines, who has been active in Orange County since it entered the local market in 2005.
The development of The Village Santa Ana is anticipated to unfold over the next two decades, delivered in multiple phases to adapt to evolving market conditions. The first three phases will bring 1,050 residential units and 73,175 square feet of retail space. Subsequently, the fourth phase will introduce the office components and 6,825 square feet of additional retail, according to present plans. The final phase will complete the project with the remaining 269 residential units. In total, the residential component will encompass nearly 1.9 million square feet, with the exact breakdown of for-sale and for-rent units yet to be specified.
According to plans, the international design collective Rios will oversee The Village development’s landscape aspects, while Gensler will serve as the project architect.
The Village Santa Ana will be a community-oriented project, offering residents and visitors 3.3 acres of open space. It will also feature 3,520 parking spaces and a dedicated outdoor area designed for events, including yoga and fitness classes, parties, markets, and outdoor movie nights. Additionally, the project incorporates a “Fitness Loop” that encircles the site, along with a bicycle network.
The Segerstrom family views this project as an extension of its 125-year legacy, emphasizing community-centered investments that support local culture, organizations, and successful business development. In addition, the development will be privately financed.
The Village Santa Ana is not the only substantial development on the horizon for the area. Adjacent to this project, Related California has proposed the Related Bristol project, a $3 billion endeavor that includes apartments, retail, senior housing, and a premium hotel. Together, these projects aim to bring over 5,333 homes and approximately 650,000 square feet of commercial space to Santa Ana.
