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This historic community wants to grow beyond being known for its famed “Jewel of the Missions” and the swallows that return from Argentina every March.
To achieve that goal, San Juan Capistrano is planning a string of new developments that range from a new business park, a performing arts center and a proposed 70-room hotel.
About 16 projects expected to come to life within the next few years.
Also, in the works—several multifamily projects, including San Juan Meadows, a residential and mixed-use development that has been on the city’s agenda for about 15 years.
The building boom comes as the city is expected to benefit from the 2028 Summer Olympics, which plans to host the surfing competition in nearby San Clemente (see story, page 13).
The projects are all part of San Juan Capistrano’s vision to evolve from a sleepy bedroom community—that once banned drive-through fast-food restaurants—into a destination town.
It’s also another indicator that south Orange County is undergoing a building boom. Just a few miles northeast of the city is Rancho Mission Viejo, which is about a third of its way to building a community that when completed in 15 years will have about 14,000 homes and 5.2 million square feet of commercial space.
Also nearby is Laguna Niguel’s infamous Ziggurat federal building, which is up for sale; its 92-acre site could become a multi-billion-dollar project of homes and commercial businesses.
San Juan Capistrano of course is world-renown for its mission that was founded in 1776 and is the site of numerous concerts and festivals.
One of the developers who is helping bring the concept of San Juan Capistrano as a
destination to life is Dan Almquist, who is working with the city to build a 77-room non-flagged hotel and a proposed performing arts center.
“It’s to create a sense of community and create a destination,” Almquist told the Business Journal.
Almquist’s eponymous company was the mastermind behind the city’s River Street Marketplace, which last year opened with retailers and restaurants such as Hobie Surf Shop, Mendocino Farms, Tecovas, Finca and Vaquera.
“It’s been this journey over the past 10 years: of listening to the community, trying to understand what San Juan wants, but also educating people on South Orange County. There’s this idea that San Juan is an old, historic city within the county, but I think a lot has changed,” Almquist said.
He noted cities like San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point and Mission Viejo have grown significantly over the past few years.
“A lot of families (have moved) south, looking at it from that lens and figuring out how to do something that was really unique yet referential to the community,” Almquist said. “You go there, and everyone loves the tenants that we brought in, but it’s also the format.
There’s a lot of communal space. You see kids running around; you see families. I think we accomplished what the goal was. It just took a while to get there.”
Helping San Juan Capistrano’s cause: Olympic surfing in nearby San Clemente.
San Juan Capistrano could be one of three partner cities—the others being Dana Point and Oceanside—helping San Clemente host the international surfing competition during the 2028 games.
The Business Journal this week features its annual lists of Orange County’s biggest commercial developers and construction companies (see page 19 for more).
Here is a look at some of those projects in San Juan Capistrano’s pipeline.
1. 70 Hotel Rooms
City officials are currently reviewing entitlements for a 70-room hotel on 1.79-acre site currently home to two historic adobes. The hotel would specifically rehabilitate Domingo Yorba Adobe and Manuel Garcia Adobe, two structures listed in San Juan Capistrano’s Inventory of Historic & Cultural Landmarks and National Register of Historic Places.
Both adobes would be incorporated into the hotel use, according to city staff.
Information about the project’s developer and total cost has not yet been determined.
2. San Juan Meadows
One of the most ambitious city projects calls for bringing residential and commercial uses on nearly 155 acres of land just east of the Santa Ana (5) Freeway.
San Juan Capistrano City Council approved entitlements for San Juan Meadows in 2010, but construction for the mixed-use project has not yet been green-lit. The proposed development is currently slated to bring 94 single-family houses to 137 acres south of La Novia Avenue and north of Pacifica San Juan.
Plans also call for nearly 19 acres of land to be developed for commercial uses and an equestrian center.
Laura Stokes, a principal planner with San Juan Capistrano, said San Meadows is entitled for grading.
“The grading of the site is currently ongoing,” Stokes told the Business Journal. “The residential development will still require an Architectural Control for the appearance of the residences to be approved, and the area will also have an equestrian facility, which requires a Conditional Use Permit prior to operations, and an Architectural Control for the appearance of the facility.”
3. Swallows Creek
A 123,000-square-foot industrial building was demolished and is being replaced by three warehouse buildings totaling 136,310 square feet. One of the buildings could be used for vehicle sales. The buildings are currently under construction.
4. Performing Arts Center
The city of San Juan Capistrano is also reviewing entitlements for a proposed performing arts center at 31872 El Camino Real.
The city is specifically considering whether to build a performing arts center at Historic Town Center Park, which is owned by San Juan Capistrano. Current plans call for the center to have 367 seats and 40,241 square feet of floor area.
5. San Juan Hills Golf Course Driving Range
The operator of one of the largest golf practice facilities in Orange County filed a request with the city to reconfigure the driving range layout and update the parking lot. The redevelopment project is underway, according to city staff.
6. Los Rios Theater
The city is currently reviewing entitlements for a proposed live entertainment venue with restaurant and bar at 26762 Verdugo St. near the city’s train depot. The proposed venue would replace an existing movie theater.
7. Capistrano Business Park
(Residential Conversion)
The city is reviewing entitlements for a proposal to re-zone Capistrano Business Park at 27122-27136 Paseo Espada for residential uses. The proposal calls for an amendment to the city’s land use designation to allow for the conversion of 69 commercial tenant suites into residential uses.
8. 278 Apartment Units
San Juan Plaza is a proposal for a 5-floor, 278-unit apartment building with 316,282 square feet of market rate and affordable housing units, nearly 15,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and other commercial uses, and 400 parking stalls. Entitlements have been approved. The project is now awaiting submission of its building permits.
9. Mission Place
The Playhouse, a performing arts venue, would be replaced with a pair of two-floor buildings and a four-level parking structure. The two main buildings would house nearly 25,000 square feet of office, restaurant and retail spaces. Permitting for the project at 31776 El Camino Real is currently under review. The Playhouse, meanwhile, is relocating to 31896 Plaza Drive, Suite C. The new venue will feature a main stage with 99 seats, a second theater space and a shared lobby.
10. Forster Mixed-Use Project
The city is reviewing entitlements for a request to build a mixed-use project at 31872, 31878 and 31882 Camino Capistrano. The project calls for 95 market rate apartments with a clubhouse and resort-style pool, 4,294-square-foot restaurant and a 3,100-square-foot fitness center.
11. Ortega Highway Widening
The California Department of Transportation, or CalTrans, proposed the widening of State Route 74, also called Ortega Highway, through San Juan Capistrano. The total length of the widening would be 1.1 miles. The highway would expand from two to four lanes from Calle Entradero to where San Juan Capistrano meets unincorporated Orange County.
12. Finally, a Chipotle Mexican Grill
The entitlement review process is also underway for the city’s first Chipotle Mexican Grill at 31787 Del Obispo St. The proposed Chipotle would be built in a retail center that’s home to a Target, Marshalls, Subway and Chick-fil-A. It will have a drive-through lane, once banned in the city, for mobile pick-up orders.