WESTMINSTER MALL is located at Goldenest Street and Bolsa Avenue in Westminster (OC Tribune photo).
By Jim Tortolano
Orange County Tribune
A public hearing on a proposal to build 89 three-story for-sale townhouses on the grounds of the Westminster Mall will be held by the Westminster City Council when it meets on Wednesday.
The proposed project would be constructed on a 3.62-acre site at the southeast corner of Edwards Street and Royal Oak Drive/Westminster Mall Drive on a location formerly occupied by retail businesses including Babies R Us.
The units would average about 1,533-square feet and feature a mix of two-bedroom and three-bedroom layouts. Nine of the units would be reserved as affordable housing for low-income households earning no more than 80 percent of the area median income.
That would translate to $88,400 for a one-person household up to $126,250 for a four-person household. The use of low-income housing qualifies the developer for density bonus incentives.
According to the staff report, the development would include a private neighborhood park with amenities such as seating, shade structures, barbecues, bicycle parking, a central landscaped pedestrian paseo and a small public plaza at Edwards Street and Royal Oak Drive with seating and public art installations.
The project would be among the first to bring to life the Westminster Mall Specific Plan, which calls for converting the enclosed shopping center and surrounding land into a mixed-use project including residential, retail and entertainment uses.
The council will meet in closed session at 5:30 p.m. and open session at 6 p.m. in its chambers at 8200 Westminster Blvd.
A study session will be held 4 p.m. for the proposed 2025-26 city budget.
