A Coastal Hub of Modern Living, With a Fresh Mix of New Residences and Eateries, Catalina Village is Coming to Redondo Beach
“I love to design projects that fit within the urban fabric of its surrounding area,” says Jason Muller.
The developer and founder of Beach City Capital is discussing his latest, and one of his most ambitious projects to date—Catalina Village—a new mixed-use development along a stretch of Catalina Avenue in Redondo Beach.
Tucked neatly between the sparkling waters of King Harbor Marina and Redondo Pier, the site will span across 100-132 N Catalina Avenue—1.2 acres that’s housed a mix of local shops, eateries and offices for decades. Here Jason Muller and Beach City Capital have re-imagined the area with a planned 3,000 square feet of new restaurant and retail space, along with 32 apartments, the bulk of them bright townhomes, some with elevated views of the Pacific Ocean.
“I believe in the location, and the need for housing on the site,” explains Jason Muller, pointing out how the residences will produce a much-needed boost in local housing, all of it new construction. “We’re providing affordable housing for families that are starting out, and for rent housing in a market that only has condos,” he adds. “Not everybody can afford a 2-million-dollar condo.”
Interestingly, Jason Muller’s background includes studying architecture while simultaneously studying development while a student at USC. From there he worked for large institutional development companies before starting his own firm about a decade ago—yet he always remains hyperconscious of the transformative power of design, so at Catalina Village he carefully shaped its look, feel and lifestyle.
“There’s coastal plantation architecture,” Jason Muller says of the development. “with sprinkles of contemporary elements.”
Nods to local history will co-exist alongside the development’s new amenities.
“We were able to figure out a way to preserve the primary historical resources on site,” says the developer.
A former blacksmith shop, a stop along the Red Car streetcar route back in the day, will be re-imagined as a spacious tasting room. Linked via a fresh-air courtyard will be coffee and breakfast spot, housed in yet another longstanding building. Finally, a century-old Masonic Temple that also served as a post office will be transformed into new residences.
“I’ve done more architecture as a developer than I did as an architect,” Jason Muller chuckles.
On Catalina Avenue, the developers found an ideal address, a couple of blocks west of PCH and about two miles from the shops and eateries of Riviera Village. Schools are nearby and the street alongside the new development is wide and lined with palm trees. Steps away is a sprawling green park that winds along the water.
“It’s a build-to-hold, generational project,” says Jason Muller, describing how his firm plans continued ownership of Catalina Village, rather than selling it after completion.
The project is still open to investors and currently in its Phase 2 stage, consisting of construction documentation and preparing for site remediation ahead of breaking ground. Environmental cleanup is needed on the site before construction can begin, which is scheduled to start next March and is estimated to last 20 months.
Once complete, Catalina Village will join a larger reset of the Redondo Beach waterfront region that includes a proposed $300-million project currently under entitlement review (The Waterfront), and the future development of the now-defunct AES power plant.
Bright and new, teeming with community and places to gather, the vision of this development and its contemporary feel heralds the next chapter of this special corner of Redondo Beach.
“It’s an impact investment,” Jason Muller says of Catalina Village. “A project that celebrates a high quality of life.”
Jason Muller | Founder of Beach City Capital
Jason@BeachCityCapital.com | (310)245-4419
beachcitycapital.com/project/catalina/
Photographs Courtesy of Beach City Capital
