Hello Long Beach! Here are some news highlights to start the week of March 6, 2023.
Homeless Donation Drive
The city has set up donation centers at the Boys and Girls Club of Long Beach, Scherer Park Community Center, and all of the public libraries for the community to donate items to the homeless population. Donations can also be made to the Multi-Service Center, but the center requires a phone call to set up a drop-off time. Examples of items to donate include hygiene kits, pet food, clothing, hand warmers, and sealed food items. Donation receipts are available at each site for those who are interested. For a more detailed list of items to donate and for donation site hours of operation, click here.
Long Beach awarded $30 million federal grant to renovate Shoreline Drive
The Shoreline Drive Gateway Project intends to double the size of Cesar Chavez Park by creating six acres of new park space. The area is currently inaccessible because it is blocked by freeway lanes, so the reconfiguration will consist of detouring traffic from the residential roadway to get to the park. Other construction of the project includes relocating utilities, installing traffic controls, removing old landscaping, and relocating street lighting. The city still requires an additional $30 million to see the project to fruition and is currently seeking additional state and federal support. Learn more here.
City council to decide submitting joint loan for affordable housing project
On Tuesday, March 7, the Long Beach City Council will decide whether it will submit a joint application with AMCAL Multi-Housing, Inc., which asks the state for $50 million in grants and loans. This money would be used to build a complex for an affordable housing project that intends to house extremely low to low-income households. AMCAL hopes that submitting a joint application with the city of Long Beach will increase the chances of receiving funding from the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development. In addition to building an affordable housing complex, the project will also create new bike paths, add curbs to surrounding sidewalks in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and buy three fully electric buses for Long Beach Transit. Learn more here.
The Grand Prix has started closing down streets to build Acura Grand Prix track
Construction for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach circuit has begun in preparation for the race weekend that will take place April 14-16. The next month will consist of adding concrete blocks that anchor the 2-mile-long track and adding grandstands that are expected to hold up to 180,000 people. All businesses along the race circuit, including Shoreline Drive, Aquarium Way, and Pine Ave., will remain open during the construction of the racetrack. This year’s event will feature a live music performance from Kings of Chaos, a band formed by members of Guns N Roses and Velvet Revolver. Ticket prices range from $38 for a Friday General Admission ticket to $175 for a three-day ticket. Learn more here.
Tim McGraw and Blake Shelton will headline Coastal Country Jam in Long Beach
Coastal Country Jam is coming to Long Beach September 16-17 with country all-stars Tim McGraw and Blake Shelton as the headliners. The event will take place in Marina Green Park, which has just hosted the Cali Vibes festival that took place in February. The event will feature multiple stages, a line dancing area, local food vendors, art, and more. Tickets for this beachside country music part are now available, more event info can be found here.
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