Large Mixed-Use Development Proposed in Little Saigon

Courtesy of KTGY

A press release and architect website provides a look into the proposed Bolsa Row consisting of a six acre mixed use development with hotel, housing, experiential & lifestyle retail, restaurant space, and an event facility. 

Developer, IP Westminster, LLC, proposes to construct a new mixed use destination, Bolsa Row, in Little Saigon. The project site is located in the City of Westminster, near the south-east corner of Brookhurst Street and Bolsa Avenue. 

Currently, the existing condition at the project site is predominately vacant space, but the proposed project would bring: 

• Little Saigon's first mid-rise hotel comprised of a five-story building with 150 hotel rooms
• Five-story apartment with 201 rental units consisting of studios, one, and two bedroom apartment homes
• Amenities which include a pool and spa facility, recreation, and fitness space
• Ground floor experiential and lifestyle retail, restaurant space, and an event facility of which all these total about 60,000 square feet

To activate the space, the proposal includes creating a "Festival Street" which entails a pedestrian-friendly retail promenade with the ability to host events such as a Southeast Asian summer night market.

KTGY who did the planning for the proposed project is also the project architect. Ken Ryan, KTGY principal and head of the firm's Community Planning and Urban Design Studio, sheds light on the significance of the Festival Street stating, "The retail along the base of the hotel's event hall and apartment community engages and enlivens the Festival Street, which can be closed to traffic without restricting the circulation of the site. The Festival Street provides parking for retail when open and a safe space for community gatherings, farmers markets, holiday celebrations or private parties when closed".

Johanna Crooker, Director of Planning for KTGY and the project, explains "The goal of the new development is to give back to the community of Little Saigon and the City of Westminster by creating a unique live, shop, celebrate destination that evokes the spirit of the pre-1970s Vietnamese and honors the Vietnamese culture and traditions. The architectural style of the new development reflects French Colonial influences and the elegance of great spaces, lifestyle and the atmosphere before the war."  An example of this inspiration can be seen in the design of the tower element of the retail and banquet building where it draws from Vietnam's famous Ben Thanh Market. 

According to the press release, the plans have been submitted to the city and are currently under review. 

Rendering (Courtesy of KTGY):

Located in the northeastern corner of the site and is planned to include a hotel with up to 150 rooms, deck pool, event space, pedestrian banquet bridge connections, and views of the Disneyland fireworks. Active frontages engage the Festival Street and orient activity toward the interior of site, minimizing potential impacts to existing residential neighbors.

Located in the center of the site the Festival Retail Street connecting the residential residences to the south, the Banquet facility to the north and the Hotel to the east.

Located in the southern portion of the site. This area is envisioned to include up to 210 apartments with supporting amenities and ground floor retail uses. Active frontage along the Festival Street consisting of retail and active residential amenities spaces such as the leasing offices, fitness center, and more. The active frontage is required to wrap the corner and then transition to a semi-active frontage along Brookhurst Street.

Source: Google Maps