Almost 4,000 new residential units are coming to South Santa Ana, along S. Bristol St.

Related Bristol, a $3 billion mixed use development project, received unanimous approval with a 6-0 vote from the Santa Ana City Council to move forward with the transformational 41-acre redevelopment of a 1970s-era shopping center along South Bristol Street, into a dynamic mixed-used urban village with 3,750 apartments, 350,000 square feet of retail and commercial uses, 200 senior living units and a 250-room hotel.

The site is bounded by Bristol Street to the east, Plaza Drive to the west, Sunflower Avenue to the south, and MacArthur Boulevard to the north.

Construction of Related Bristol is expected to occur in distinct sequential phases beginning with the southern portion of the site in 2026, then heading northward. Completion of the third and final phase will not happen until 2036, over ten years from now.

Once completed, Related Bristol will be the largest private investment in Santa Ana’s long history. As proposed, it will generate $500 million in new net revenue to the city in the first 30 years of the project, $544 million in community benefits.

The project is also expected to create 16,834 one-time jobs and $1.5 billion in one-time labor income citywide, as well as 1,215 to 5,529 new jobs and over $337 million in new labor income on an ongoing basis.

“This is a historic project for Santa Ana that will create thousands of new jobs and housing units while generating billions of dollars for the local economy,” Mayor Valerie Amezcua said. “The City Council’s unanimous approval of Related Bristol reflects our vision and commitment to plan for the needs of our current and future residents through responsible growth and thoughtful new development that will benefit the entire community.”

The project will provide a Police Department substation and 24/7 onsite security to patrol the 41-acre area. Under the development agreement with the City, Related California will pay the City $22 million for community benefits, an estimated $18 million of in-lieu housing fees for the creation of new affordable housing, and ensure the 13.1 acres of open space remain permanently accessible to the public.

Related Bristol was recommended for approval by the City’s Planning Commission on a unanimous 7-0 vote following a public hearing on August 12.

The plan to transform the 41-acre Metro Town Square Shopping Center into a highly-walkable, people-first urban village with apartments, shops and restaurants and 13 acres of programmed open space along South Bristol Street took two years to get approved. It is now the largest private investment in Santa Ana’s 154-year history.

The Santa Ana City Council, decades ago, famously rejected plans to build the South Coast Plaza, driving that development southward into Costa Mesa. That proved to be a trillion dollar mistake. Fortunately this time our City Council did not drop the ball.