Urban Commons Will Begin Renovations to a SoCal Favorite
Written By: Lyndsay Marvin Queen Mary Renovations
A well-known piece of history in Long Beach is getting a makeover. The Queen Mary, a historic ship that has been docked in Long Beach, Calif. since 1967, is undergoing a $15 million renovation plan. The Queen Mary is a retired ocean liner that sailed on the North Atlantic Ocean. Since 1971, it has been a tourist attraction, the 15th most popular in the United States in fact—featuring restaurants, a hotel, and a maritime museum. Through various lease owners, property managers and forgotten dreams of becoming an amusement park, The Queen Mary has changed quite a bit. Los Angeles-based real estate investment and development firm, Urban Commons assumed the 66-year master lease this past April, and they are ready to do their magic to make the Queen Mary the best yet.
The Queen Mary is a favorite amongst Southern California residents, not to mention the thousands of tourists that visit every year. Popular events are held on the ship, including (but certainly not limited to) the weekly Champagne Sunday Brunch, the Dark Harbor month-long event for Halloween, and a consistently sold-out New Year’s Eve party. These events are only going to get better with what Urban Commons plans to do.
Urban Commons’ renovation plan will span the entire ship, from guestrooms to public restaurants. They’re celebrating the ship’s beauty and art deco design by enhancing its original charm and highlighting the nostalgia behind ocean traveling. There will be upgrades to hotel corridors: modern lighting, new carpeting and refurbished millwork in alignment with the original design of the Queen Mary, paying homage to its original character. Urban Commons is collaborating with Brintons, a British manufacturer of carpets that originally designed some of the carpets on the Queen Mary. They are also working with world-renowned architecture firm Gensler to give modern influences on the ship while returning the Queen Mary to her glory days. Queen Mary Renovations
Although Urban Commons will keep many of the historic details, they plan to renovate and modernize the interior of the ship (think guest rooms and restaurants) to accommodate and appeal to modern and tech-savvy travelers. There will be renovations in each of the 346 original First-Class Staterooms and nine suites. Renovations will be done to the ends of the ship to create great entertainment options and destination points, such as indoor/outdoor restaurants and bars, possibly with live music and unique drinks. They will be attractive spaces that will draw in locals and tourists, giving the opportunity to create memories that will last a lifetime. Queen Mary Renovations
“Urban Commons plans to create new social hubs at each end of the ship that will serve as destinations for visitors and transform existing spaces onboard the ship into hip, trendy venues that will appeal to a large audience, ” said Taylor Woods, Principal of Urban Commons. Queen Mary Renovations
In the past, the 45 acres of land along the coast and adjacent to the ship have been underutilized. Urban Commons plans to change that. Long Beach is equidistant from Los Angeles and Orange County, so it’s a great blend of urban living and beach resort atmosphere. Urban Commons wants to expand on the urban living feel, so they will introduce dining, retail, entertainment and adventure options that will be a must-visit amongst locals and tourists alike. It will be unlike anything that can currently be found in Southern California. Based on the guiding principles of the Queen Mary Land Development Taskforce, Urban Commons will be working with the City of Long Beach and developing a large-scale development plan for the oceanfront area. Details of the master plan will be revealed as they are confirmed. Queen Mary Renovations
“We envision an action-packed environment where guests can enjoy one-of-a-kind entertainment and activity offerings all in one central place, ” said Taylor Woods.
The completion date for the Queen Mary renovations is scheduled for late-2017.
Urban Commons
777 S Figueroa St Ste 2850
Los Angeles, CA 90017
213.260.9111
Queen Mary
1126 Queens Highway
Long Beach, CA 90802
877.342.0738
Reigning Queen of Long Beach to Get an Upgrade
