ANAHEIM, Calif. — On Tuesday, the Anaheim City Council approved a massive development around a $4 billion grand center.
Earlier this week, the council unanimously approved Henry and Susan Samueli’s project called ocV!BE – an intermodal center around the Honda Center and Anaheim Area Transit Street Opposite large mixed development and entertainment area.
Samuelis, a longtime owner of the Anaheim Ducks, recently struck a deal with the city to manage the Honda Center and ARTIC.
The council will hold a second vote on October 2 for final approval. 4.
“We thank the Anaheim City Council and City staff for their strong support of our vision for ocV!BE and our continued partnership with the City of Anaheim,” Henry and Susan Samueli said in a press release. “We look forward to beginning construction of this important community asset as soon as possible to showcase Anaheim and Orange County while providing world-class entertainment and products to local residents, visitors and our Anaheim Ducks fans.”
City officials said they could see developers break ground by the end of the year and start large-scale construction in 2023.
The goal is to be ready in time for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where the Honda Center will host volleyball competitions from countries around the world.
Rendering ocV!BE in Anaheim. (Photo courtesy of ocV!BE)
The ocV!BE development will be nearly 100 acres of new office, condo, entertainment, retail, restaurants and park space, anchored by the Honda Center.
The project includes a new 5,700-seat performance theater, 1,500 residential condo units (including 195 affordable units), two 550-room hotels, indoor and outdoor office space, a 4-acre public and private park, and A 6,000-seat outdoor amphitheater.
The Honda Center will also receive a $390 million refurbishment and the ARTIC Transportation Center will receive a $60 million upgrade.
City officials envision a place where residents and visitors can enjoy a game or concert at the Honda Center, shop at the farmers market, dine at the food hall, drink at the craft brewery and lounge at the rooftop bar.
Mayor Pro Tem Trevor O’Neill said the new project will help create thousands of local and temporary jobs and provide much-needed affordable housing in the area.
“What’s not to like about this project?” O’Neal said at the meeting. “We will bring nearly $10 million in new projected annual revenue to the city for public safety, community investments and other community benefits.”
With the expansion, ocV!BE will be a world-class destination in the city’s growing Platinum Triangle, O’Neill said.