As mixed-use districts mature, coordinated branding, public-private partnerships, walkability, arts, hospitality and business alignment can help them stay competitive – particularly as demand patterns shift. How do maturing mixed-use districts stay competitive as office, retail, multifamily and hospitality demand patterns continue to shift? The experience of South Coast Metro in Orange County, Calif., offers several practical lessons. In the 1960s, developer and philanthropist Henry Segerstrom envisioned the growth of a vibrant urban center that became…

The story of South Coast Metro is all in the numbers. Boasting more than 2,500 acres within 3.5 square miles, including sections of the cities of Costa Mesa and Santa Ana, South Coast Metro represents a blueprint for a modern mixed-use community with each of its components successfully interlocking – all strategically located midway between Los Angeles and San Diego and conveniently near John Wayne Airport. South Coast Metro is home to the  acclaimed Theater…

The City of Santa Ana and the South Coast Metro Alliance (SCMA), a nonprofit corporation of property owners and major businesses in the South Coast Metro area of Orange County, have forged a unique relationship that has significantly benefited both entities. South Coast Metro is strategically located midway between Los Angeles and San Diego and conveniently near John Wayne Airport. It’s Orange County’s cultural and corporate center with shopping, world-class arts, diverse culinary experiences, many Class…