Blur your eyes and you can almost see the future: Tustin Legacy, years from now, with its fill-in-the-blanks all filled in.
And there’s a lot of land to fill in – a 1,600-acre expanse that makes the two enormous blimp hangars almost look normal size. Left behind when the Marine Corp Air Station closed, the 20-story half-cylinders in turn dwarf new structures popping up.
Already, Flight, the space-age office complex, is approaching takeoff. Two years ago, this site, too, was a big plot of dirt. Today, the shells of what will be four glass buildings – each several levels of open and airy floor plans – take shape along Barranca Parkway.
The Legacy Park, also mere artists’ renderings this time in 2016, has gained an orchard of trees. The linear walking and biking plaza runs along Flight, providing a scenic view out all those windows on the way.
Yet another project broke ground this summer – Levity, the soon-to-be site of 218 homes. The 15-acre neighborhood will edge Tustin Ranch Road, which eventually will slice north-south through the middle of Legacy.
In a somewhat unconventional arrangement, the city, rather than a private entity, serves as master developer. Tustin took over that role in 2006 when a deal with a developer fell through.
“Tustin itself does the legwork to get the land ready for sell (to a developer),” said Mayor Al Murray. “Most cities would rather outsource that job.”
On a recent day, Murray and Tustin’s management analyst Kenneth Piguee proudly led a tour of the blossoming development.
Despite Flight’s skeletal buildings poking up; the established neighborhoods of Columbus Square and Greenwood; and the District shopping center tucked into the southern corner, the Legacy is still largely vacant.
Laying infrastructure has been the most costly and time-consuming demand of the development, Piguee said. Roads, utilities and sewage lines must accommodate every house, office, restaurant and medical clinic envisioned for the big picture.
As master planner, the city could not simply fork over the estimated $400 million required for infrastructure and complete the job in one fell swoop.
“We go step by step, selling one property to fund the next project,” Piguee said. “We have to be mindful of cash flow and the city’s other priorities.”
Built by Lennar residential developer, Levity houses are expected to go on the market next summer – with the smallest townhomes – 1,380 square feet – starting at around $565,000. Reasonable by Orange County standards, that price tag is intended to attract young families whose children will fill Legacy’s schools.
Heritage Elementary already is on the property. The city transferred the 40 acres of Legacy land to Tustin Unified School District in 2015 for a middle school and high school not yet under construction. The middle school is targeted to open first, in 2020.
Creation of the 31-acre Veterans Sports Park is scheduled to begin later this year. It will include four soccer fields, three baseball diamonds, a skate park, a large playground, basketball and tennis courts and a Veterans Memorial.
Flight is scheduled to make its debut later this year. Eventually, it will boast a food hall as well as several small office buildings that can be leased as a whole. Developer Lincoln Property has not announced tenants.
Also, according to long-term plans, Legacy Park will grow to stretch diagonally from one corner of the Legacy to the other. The trail will terminate at the Metrolink station, with the boast that employees can walk or bike after commuting.
Murray calls Legacy “the gateway to Tustin.” A hard-to-miss entry sign on its western corner, composed of individual block letters, drives home that point.
“It is the heart of Orange County,” Murray said. “All roads lead to Tustin Legacy.”
