The Costa Mesa City Council has approved a large-scale housing project on the former site of the Fairview Developmental Center, a state hospital campus that closed in 2022. The plan calls for up to 2,300 residential units, including 920 affordable units designated for low-income tenants, marking a significant step toward repurposing the 80-acre property.
The Fairview Developmental Center once housed more than 2,500 patients but was shuttered as California shifted care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to community-based group homes and independent living arrangements. The city’s approval moves forward a lengthy planning process aimed at meeting housing demands while balancing community concerns.
Although a developer has not yet been selected and detailed architectural plans remain undefined, the proposed development is expected to include a mix of apartment buildings and other multiunit housing formats. The project also features 35,000 square feet of commercial space envisioned for retail businesses such as stores, restaurants, coffee shops, fitness studios, and childcare facilities.
Public amenities are a key component of the plan, with 25 acres allocated to open spaces accessible to residents and the broader community. These spaces are planned to include parks, plazas, walking and biking trails, recreation centers, and picnic areas, contributing to the area’s livability.
City Council members narrowed down the proposal from a previous plan endorsed by the Planning Commission that would have permitted as many as 4,000 housing units. The council’s decision reflects a more measured approach despite ongoing pressure from the state government to accelerate housing development. Costa Mesa faces a substantial state mandate to add 11,760 residential units by 2030 to address the housing shortage.
The approved plan also preserves the Mesa Linda golf course at the Costa Mesa Country Club, which would have been partially divided by a new secondary access road had the unit count exceeded 2,300. However, there remains the possibility for an increase in housing density if developers qualify for state density bonuses by including sufficient affordable units.
Councilmember Arlis Reynolds highlighted the urgent need for affordable housing in Costa Mesa, noting that roughly half of the city’s residents spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs. “There are a lot of trade-offs in this project, but a driving force from the beginning is looking for opportunities for affordable housing,” Reynolds said. “Having stable, affordable housing is foundational to having a better life in Costa Mesa,” he added.
The project represents a critical phase in Costa Mesa’s efforts to address housing scarcity while repurposing a significant state-owned asset. Further development details and a timeline for construction are expected to emerge as next steps in the process.