The City of Long Beach has unveiled a draft concept for its Downtown Shoreline Vision Plan, marking a milestone in the ongoing effort to reimagine the city’s southern coastal district. The revitalisation initiative aims to modernise land use, promote sustainable growth and transform the area into an inclusive and sustainable waterfront destination.
Shoreline marina overview
The Shoreline Downtown Marina features 1,624 slips for recreational boaters and is situated between the Queen Mary and the Long Beach Convention Center. The marina is adjacent to an urban district, offering visitors and boaters convenient access to shopping, dining and entertainment within walking distance.
Shoreline Marina’s facilities include boat slips ranging from 8-metres (25-feet) to 27-metres (90-feet), side-tie dock space up to 49-metres (160-feet), restricted on-site boater parking and 24-hour security patrols. Additional amenities feature mailboxes for liveaboard boaters, showers, restrooms, pump-out stations, lockable dock boxes, secure gangway access, courtesy dock phones, fuel dock services, on-site oil recycling, fee-based Wi-Fi and laundry facilities.
Planning priorities for the Shoreline District
Stretching from Golden Shore Drive to Alamitos Avenue, the Downtown Shoreline area connects the urban core of Long Beach to its marinas, convention centre, harbours and beaches. Over the past two years, the city has collaborated with local stakeholders, experts and community members through various roundtables, design charrettes and surveys to shape a shared vision for the future of the shoreline. The resulting draft includes input focusing on sustainable development, climate resilience, economic feasibility and improved waterfront access.
The Vision Plan is set for completion in 2025 and will lay the groundwork for a formal specific plan to be reviewed by the California Coastal Commission. Seven primary goals guide the plan:
- Inclusive community engagement
- Support for current and future residents
- Environmental adaptability
- Hospitality and housing investment in greater Downtown Long Beach and its waterfront.
- Regulatory modernisation
- Creation of a globally appealing, economically sustainable waterfront district.
District-wide redevelopment strategies
Key strategies proposed under the vision include expanding maritime activity, improving esplanade connectivity, adapting infrastructure for climate resilience, enhancing recreational access and attracting new visitors. The plan is structured around four character areas:
- West Gateway: Envisioned as a mixed-use eco-district. The area will focus on clean water, pollution control near the Los Angeles River mouth, and expanded wetlands for public access and biodiversity.
- Rainbow Harbor: Plans call for increased maritime activity with additional commercial slips and attractions, supported by a continuous eastward esplanade connection.
- Convention and Entertainment District: A segment to strengthen the promenade, create new public spaces and enhance connectivity from Seaside Way to Alamitos Beach.
- Downtown Marina: With growing demand for slips, the marina could see a 15% expansion, including houseboat communities and rehabilitated areas such as Grissom Island, which may be developed as an ecological or carbon sequestration site.
Community engagement as a planning pillar
Four community roundtable meetings have shaped the project to date. The four forums have helped identify local priorities, test conceptual designs and incorporate feedback into a feasible and widely supported plan. The last session was held in April 2025, which marked the public debut of the Draft Vision Concept and encouraged stakeholders to review the strategies online and offer final feedback before the plan is formally presented to city decision-makers.
Long-term outlook
With phased implementation projected through 2075, the Downtown Shoreline Vision represents a multi-decade commitment to inclusive growth, waterfront revitalisation and environmental stewardship. The city continues to encourage public participation as it prepares to finalise the Vision Plan and begin the regulatory process.
