A luxury living community, The James of Irvine, being developed by Harbert South Bay Partners, has broken ground in Orange County, California, US, marking a significant development for the region’s upscale housing for older residents.
The ground-breaking ceremony took place at the 3.03-acre site on Gates Avenue, bringing together more than 80 attendees, including developers, city officials, and industry representatives.
Harbert South Bay Partners managing director Adam Arnold said: “This project has been years in the making, with so many dedicated teams working together since 2017.
“But as they say, good things come to those who wait – and this is going to be something special, bringing over 200 full-time jobs to the Irvine area.”
The James, designed to cater to ‘baby boomer’ renters, will offer 350 studio, one-, and two-bedroom residences in assisted living, independent living, and memory care forms.
The eight-storey community, anticipated to open in mid-2027, aims to provide modern amenities and holistic care, with easy access to Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, and Tustin.
The project is owned by the P3 Foundation, a non-profit organisation, and will be managed by Momentum Senior Living.
Van Tilburg, Banvard & Soderbergh, Rodrigo Vargas Design, and W.E. O’Neil Construction are the additional project partners.
W.E. O’Neil Construction executive vice-president Mike Byrne said: “We’re digging 32ft deep right now, and once the tower crane is erected, you’ll be able to see it from Disneyland. 5,000 ready-mix concrete trucks will be needed to complete the concrete structure – if you lined the trucks up bumper-to-bumper – that’s a stretch from Irvine to downtown Los Angeles.”
Residents will have access to various dining venues, an indoor pool and spa, a bar, a wellness gym, a yoga studio, therapy rooms, and a salon.
The community will also feature spaces for entertainment and enrichment such as two theatres, a media lounge, and an art studio, among others. Outdoor courtyards will include barbecue grills, seating areas, firepits, a putting green, and bocce courts.
