INTERIOR COURTYARD view of Phase I of Brookhurst Place (Orange County Journal photos).

By Jim Tortolano

Before there were sticks in the ground or concrete to pour, there was the idea: a sprawling mixed-use development in the triangle formed by Brookhurst Street, Brookhurst Way and Garden Grove Boulevard in Garden Grove.

After several failed tries and two generations, the dream is reality. The ribbon-cutting for the initial phase of the Brookhurst Place was held Tuesday afternoon.

STEVE JONES, Garden Grove mayor.

“An exciting day for Garden Grove,” said Mayor Steve Jones. “ It’s gone through several challenges. There were a couple of other developers who tried and failed. We had the Great Recession that we survived. We had the abolishment of redevelopment agencies here in California and just a lot of hurdles and obstacles, so it’s very exciting to see the actual grand opening of Brookhurst Place.”

This is just the start of the largest mixed-use project the city has ever seen.

When completed, the 14-acre community will include 700 residential units, a one-acre public park, an urban trail and up to 200,000 square feet of commercial and retail space. Additionally, a 100-key hotel is envisioned.

That’s quite a departure from the historic roots of the site, which was originally devoted to automotive uses. Long-time residents will remember when Smith Ford, Brookhurst Dodge and even a Studebaker dealership occupied the land. The sole remaining car seller – Kia – will be relocating to a new facility on Harbor Boulevard.

The developer is the Kam Sang Company. Phase I – unveiled Tuesday – included 180 apartment homes, a clubhouse and pool and Phase I of the urban trail.

Phase II will include 58 for-sale condominiums, 462 apartment homes (including up to 120 affordable housing units), the second part of the trail, the park and the commercial-retail-hotel piece of the project.