Anaheim’s efforts to revitalize Beach Boulevard, once an overnight destination for travelers headed to the coast that has fallen from its past, will reach key milestones this year when construction starts on new affordable housing communities and eateries.
The city’s efforts to revitalize its 1.5-mile stretch of Beach Boulevard have accelerated in recent years.
At the northeast corner of Beach Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue, a mixed-use development called 39 Commons will begin construction late this year, officials said, building a new retail space with chains In-N-Out Burger, Dave’s Hot Chicken, Dutch Bros Coffee, a specialty grocery store and more.
The development has been planned since the late 1990s, but has been delayed by remediation needs, economic slowdowns and the loss of anchor tenants. A representative for 39 Commons said there were agreements years ago with Lowe’s and WinCo that fell through, but they are in talks with a big retailer to join the development.
The almost 30-acre site was once a former landfill that later had a mobile home park and a car dealership. Environmental monitoring and remediation is still ongoing.
The development is split into phases. Sixty-five townhomes have already been built, future phases will add the additional retail space and a possible grocery store.
The city’s approach to its Rebuild Beach initiative is multifaceted. The city has made the area a focus for police, has spent tens of millions buying and demolishing decaying motels to build new housing and retail space and is enhancing the highway’s infrastructure.
The city last October took over management of Beach Boulevard from Caltrans and is currently undergrounding utility poles for $25 million and building landscaped center medians.
Councilmember Ryan Balius, who represents West Anaheim and has lived near Beach Boulevard for decades, said during an April 8 City Council update on Rebuild Beach that he’s noticed significant progress in the area.
Still, Balius said, the area has a problem with prostitution. Deputy City Manager Ted White said in 2024, Anaheim police had more than 6,000 calls for service along the corridor. They’ve also executed more than a dozen search warrants related to drug operations and gambling and conduct monthly prostitution enforcement.
With the help of additional surveillance cameras and automated license plate readers, police made 477 arrests last year, White said.
Anaheim has spent millions buying and demolishing several motels along Beach Boulevard over the past few years, including the Americana Motel, the Covered Wagon and the Anaheim Lodge. In a few weeks, the Rainbow Inn, which neighbors the Anaheim Lodge and Covered Wagon, will be demolished and eventually developed into housing.
The site of the former Americana Motel and the Silver Moon Motel, which were demolished back in 2022, will start construction this spring for an affordable housing community. The development is fully funded and will see 47 affordable intergenerational rental housing units paired with 60 for-sale townhomes.
Only 13 motels remain in the corridor compared to 18 that were there in 2017. White said there aren’t any imminent deals to buy more motels and build affordable housing, but noted that 13 motels are still more than what the corridor’s market warrants.
The city’s new zoning rules prohibit new liquor stores, motels and hookah lounges from opening in the corridor and allow up to 5,000 more homes and 2 million square feet of retail and dining space to open.
Balius said as the representative for District 1 and as a resident, there is nothing more important to him than getting Beach Boulevard moving in a better direction.
“I’m amazed and proud of the progress,” Balius said. “We’ve made significant headways.”