Tustin Legacy, Tustin, California

Tustin Legacy is a 1,600-acre (6.5 km²) planned community in Tustin, California being developed on the former Marine Corps Air Station Tustin. The project, under construction, will include parks, a commercial retail center and various densities of housing, for a total of 4,600 units.

The district includes 4,049 units of housing within Tustin’s jurisdiction, and over nine million square feet of commercial and institutional development.

The centerpiece of Tustin Legacy is its Master Developer Concept. The Master Development Site is approximately 700 acres (2.8 km²) of the Tustin Legacy property. The Master Development Site may include up to 1,825 residential units at a range of densities; approximately 3,300,000 square feet (310,000 m²) of mixed-use development; nearly 3,400,000 square feet (320,000 m²) of R&D, industrial, and office uses; more than 500,000 square feet (46,000 m²) of retail/commercial uses; a resort hotel with between 250 and 500 rooms; and a range of open space and education uses. Tustin city council members are currently entertaining the idea of having the MLB franchise the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim move to the Legacy. A baseball stadium is not within the Master Developer Concept.

“The District at Tustin Legacy” is located at the northwest corner of Jamboree Road and Barranca Parkway. The one million square foot project is a retail/entertainment element within the larger Tustin Legacy project. The central component contains over 250,000 square feet (23,000 m²) anchored by a movie theater complex with at least 3,000 stadium type seats, restaurants, bistros, cafes, entertainment and retail uses. The second component includes large in-line commercial stores located along a portion of the Jamboree Road and Tustin Ranch Road. The third component is designed for more regional power uses and is anchored by large retailers.

Approximately 68 acres (280,000 m²) of land will be developed by the South Orange County Community College District for the Advanced Technology and Education Park (ATEP).

Adjacent to the Community Core, an 84.5-acre (342,000 m²) Urban Regional Park to be developed by Orange County will feature recreational and cultural facilities as well as a family youth resource center and animal control facility. Retention and reuse of the northern blimp hangar may be considered as part of the Urban Regional Park as well. In 2013 a portion of the North Hangar's roof collapsed causing extensive damage to the hangar, this has delayed the conveyance of the hangar from MCAS to the County of Orange and therefore delaying the breaking of ground for Urban Regional Park. The opening of Urban Regional Park is now indefinite. East of the Urban Regional Park, an approximate 40-acre (160,000 m²) high school will also be developed by the Tustin Unified School District.

Commercial

The project's shopping center, named "The District", had its opening in August 2007. It covers an area of 1,000,000 square feet (93,000 m²).

Institutional

The Orange County Sheriff's Regional Training Academy opened in Tustin Legacy in September 2007. It includes classrooms, a running track and mock village where recruits can practice their skills.

The South Orange County Community College District's newest campus called Advanced Technology & Education Park (ATEP) is located in Tustin Legacy. Initial classes began in August 2007.

The first school built, is a 10-acre (40,000 m²) K-5 elementary school called Heritage School which is not currently being used for its intended purpose, it is now currently the "temporary" home of Tustin Adult School & Sycamore High School a continuation learning facility. The residents of Columbus Square aren't currently being offered a K–12 school for their children within Tustin Legacy. It is reported that there aren't enough elementary school aged children in the area to open the school. The residents are however being taxed for the School (Tustin CFD No 06-1). Children within Columbus Square and surrounding housing areas are currently attending various schools throughout the district. The Tustin Unified School District is suggesting they may open Heritage Elementary in the Fall of 2016, but is only speculation by TUSD board members. Tustin Unified School District will also be building 2 other new school campuses, a 40-acre (160,000 m²) high school, a 15-acre (61,000 m²) K–8 elementary/middle school,

The Orange County Fire Authority has built a facility in Tustin Legacy at the corner of Edinger Ave and Kensington Park Dr. The Orange County Fire Authority will sign lease papers from the city of Tustin in March 2014.

Residential

The first community built, Tustin Field, consisting of Tustin Field I and Tustin Field II, was completed in 2006. Tustin Field I consists of 376 housing units and Tustin Field II consists of 189 housing units. The second community called Villages of Columbus, consisting of Columbus Square and Columbus Grove was completed in 2013 Columbus Square has a total of 1,075 total housing units and 240 senior apartments (Coventry Court). Columbus Grove has 465 total housing units completed. On the corner of Valencia South Loop Road and Warner is The St. Anton Apartments which are 225 affordable apartments, leasing will start by the end of 2014. Amalfi Apartment Homes will also start leasing around the end of 2014 and contains 500 Apartment units. Amalfi is Located on Legacy Road and Tustin Ranch Road.

Recreation

Tustin Legacy’s plan calls for more than 200 acres (0.81 km²) of private and public parkland. This includes neighborhood parks incorporated into each of the Tustin Legacy neighborhoods, as well as larger community parks that will contain more active recreational opportunities.

The major central organizing design feature of the Tustin Legacy Project will be the Tustin Legacy Park, a two mile (3 km) long linear park covering 170 acres (690,000 m²). This will stretch across Tustin Legacy from its western corner to its eastern corner.

An 84.5-acre (342,000 m²) Orange County Urban Regional Park will be located adjacent to the Tustin Legacy Park and Tustin Legacy Community Park.

The 25-acre (100,000 m²) Design plans have been approved and the development of Legacy Park should begin in 2014/2015. The park will be located adjacent to Columbus Square.

Recent developments

The current economic conditions have caused some delays with anticipated future development, but as conditions improve, the development of major residential and commercial projects is expected to continue. Expect to see the following shortly:

• Preparation of a revised strategy for the development of 820 acres at Tustin Legacy. The 820 acres would be a master planned urban activity center with approximately 420 acres available for private residential and non-residential uses. Plans for additional development include 2,105 new dwelling units, 6,700,000 square feet (620,000 m²) of non-residential space, and new roadways, community facilities, and infrastructure.

• Demolition and grading work on the next phase of the South Orange County Community College District’s Advanced Technology Education Campus.

• Completion of a Master Plan for the Tustin Legacy Community Park, a 24-acre active sports park, adjacent to the Columbus Square Neighborhood, including community outreach and Parks and Recreation Commission Review.

• Decision by the County of Orange on the schedule for development of the planned Animal Control Facility and Regional Law Enforcement facility adjacent to Armstrong Avenue.

• The County can also be expected to move forward with planning efforts on development of an 84-acre regional park which contains the large northerly blimp hangar.

External links

• Official website
• Tustin Legacy on Google+
• Tustin Legacy on Facebook