The Port of Long Beach is taking the first step toward acquiring a commercial office property to create a hub for companies connected to maritime trade.
The move advances Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson’s economic development strategy, AnchorLB, aimed at encouraging international shippers, manufacturers and other logistics businesses to locate their offices in downtown Long Beach.
“At my State of the City, we launched AnchorLB with a simple idea: The companies that power Long Beach should have a presence in the heart of Long Beach,” Richardson said in a public statement. “I challenged Port CEO Dr. Noel Hacegaba to help bring that vision to life. Today’s acquisition turns that vision into action. This new downtown hub will bring together industry, workforce development and innovation, creating new opportunities for collaboration and helping strengthen the heart of our city.”
As a partner to the mayor’s AnchorLB initiative, the Port of Long Beach will acquire the property at 100 Oceangate, located near the Long Beach Civic Center, which includes a 13-story building with 226,748 rentable square feet of office space and a five-level parking structure.
The space will serve trade-related businesses and provide space for meetings, workforce development initiatives and “Port U,” the Port of Long Beach’s internal training and career development program.
“A world-class port deserves a world-class business hub where industry leaders can work, meet and collaborate in a central location,” Long Beach Harbor Commission President Frank Colonna said in a public statement. “Bringing maritime businesses into downtown Long Beach will strengthen our connection to the community, spur economic activity for local businesses and extend the benefits of trade beyond our waterfront.”
The sale price will be public information once the Port presents the Purchase of Sale Agreement to the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners on July 27, according to Art Marroquin, Port of Long Beach media relations manager.
