On Thursday, February 19 from 5:00PM to 9:00PM, the Downtown Long Beach Associates, as part of their Celebrate Downtown Event, will be offering Long Beach residents an opportunity to meet members of the Plenary/Edgemoor Civic Partnership, the team chosen to develop the new Civic Center.

“We find ourselves in a unique and opportune situation,” said Kraig Kojian, President and CEO of the DLBA, in a statement. “We have the chance to express ourselves and use our voices to develop what is nothing short of our city’s civic epicenter. And because Downtown is everyone’s backyard, we have a gift with the new Civic Center and the exciting opportunity to stand at the entrance of shaping our future.”

Attendees of the Celebrate Downtown event, to be located in Lincoln Park, will be encouraged to discuss with PECP leaders one-on-one about the project, to get up close and personal with the 3D model and to engage with the project leaders with the hope that such discussion will push the boundaries of community interaction and inspire

PECP has been tasked with developing 15.6 acres of the civic center space, according to the DLBA, including Lincoln Park, the library, City Hall, the new Port of Long Beach headquarters and commercial spaces throughout the area. Although largely neglected, with the exception of the valiant work by Friends of Lincoln Park, to be honored at the Celebrate Downtown event with a Spirit of Downtown Award, the park is one of the many integral facets of the Civic Center. PECP will be paying special attention to this community space, recognized by local leaders and organizations as an important feature to revitalize as part of the new civic center’s overall design.

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PECP’s proposal, with this view looking south toward the Port.

“The project will only be successful if people want to use this new area, to really use the park, to come Downtown for an event or performance, to shop in the new retail, and to live in the new residential or stay in the new hotel,” said Jeff Fullerton, Director, Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate in a statement. “We want to hear from the people of Long Beach what would make them come Downtown.”

To accompany the Spirit of Downtown honorees, the DLBA and PECP, Pier 76 Fish Grill will provide food, while Rock Bottom Brewery and The Sky Room will each be providing beverages, including beer and wine. Opening Act MajicBulletTheory and closing band The Get Down Boys will be setting the celebratory mood before and after the ceremony.

“PECP is looking forward to hearing from Long Beach stakeholders about what kind of place the Civic Center should be,” said Stuart Marks, Senior VP of Plenary Group in a statement. “What will make this area something special that will draw people to the heart of the City?”

The event is free, but space is limited and an RSVP is required. Please email [email protected] or call 562-436-4259.

Asia Morris is a Long Beach native covering arts and culture for the Long Beach Post. You can reach her @hugelandmass on Twitter and Instagram and at [email protected].