The city of Laguna Niguel lies in the southwestern corner of Orange County, is roughly 14.5 square miles and home to 67,000 residents. In 2019, the city set forth a strategic plan directed at accomplishing a set of goals and priorities for its future, one of which included a Land Use Study on the Chet Holifield Federal Building, one of Laguna Niguel’s earliest landmarks. In June of 2023, the city commissioned ULI Orange County/Inland Empire to conduct a technical assistance panel (TAP) aimed at visioning what the highest and best uses could be for the Chet Holifield Federal Building and surrounding property that would also support the city’s future needs. Located in a desirable area surrounded by retail shops, offices, and residential homes, the property is government owned and has stood semi-vacant for years. 

 The panel was tasked with assessing the site for potential land use opportunities, consideration of neighboring properties, residential feasibility; specifically for young families and first time homebuyers, public space components, and economic success complementary to the rest of the city. The panel presented three different design recommendations, varying greatly in cost and amenities, all containing housing as a primary use: (1) Sports Village, (2) Campus Village, (3) Entertainment Village. Each design option considers the market context, community benefits, and stakeholder feedback, and proposes several ways to preserve the history of the site, such as incorporating historical documentation on-site, replicating the design style of original buildings, relocating healthy trees, and recognizing the guard buildings. The two-day effort concluded with the technical advisory panel identifying several strategies for next steps. Read these recommendations as well as the full report here.