Daxon: What to expect for Brea in 2024

Big changes are in store for several key spots in Brea this year.

Heading the list is the Brea Mall, where owner Simon Property Group has already demolished the former Sears store, tire center and nearby parking lot, making way for a mixed-use project. That project includes an eight-story apartment building (five levels of apartments and three of parking), a posh fitness center, assorted shops, restaurants and a public park-like area that could be used for community events and concerts.

Sounds good. I just hope they bring back Williams-Sonoma.

Starting this month, the mall project will include overnight work on the underground utilities and storm drains. From 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. expect a lane closure on Randolph Street and delays on Imperial Highway. Best to just avoid that area after 10 p.m.

While the Laurel Elementary School students were on winter break, major changes happened at Gaslight Square, across from the school.

Major demolition took place and all that is left of the former professional offices and retail center are the two dental-medical offices located there. All the other brick buildings are gone to make way for a 2,000-square-food, drive-thru restaurant with outdoor seating, a 6,000-square-foot commercial building to house another restaurant plus medical or retail space, plus parking for 104 vehicles.

The center will have a new, modern architectural style. The red bricks? Doubt they are coming back.

We’ll be watching to see what tenants will be moving in. Will Raising Cane’s give it another try?

Another major project getting underway this year is Aera Energy’s Brea 265 project. It is a master-planned residential community that will span the former oil fields near the Brea Sports Park, mainly in the vicinity of Lambert Road, Valencia Avenue and Rose Drive.

The 1,100-residential-unit project will range from posh single-family homes, to townhomes to apartments. It will be low- to medium-density residential and include 110 affordable units.

Brea 265 will also include 15.1 acres of parks, trails and 47.5 acres of open space. These are major changes to the former oil fields and the Christmas tree farm formerly on Rose Drive, and the eastside of town.

More than 1,000 residential units does means more traffic, but Aera is also funding expansions of Lambert Road and Rose Drive. We need it now.

They are also funding an expansion of Olinda Elementary School and adding 13 acres to the Brea Sports Park, which will include pickleball courts, tennis courts, full-size football and soccer fields, basketball courts and playgrounds. Expect the Brea Sports Park to be a major, countywide draw for sport teams and fans.

One very cool amenity planned by Aera is an illuminated pedestrian tunnel running beneath Lambert Road. It was formerly used for oil operations. Sounds great, but hope it is safe. Aera also plans a one-acre site for a fire and police sub-station.

The Brea 265 project will take several years to complete. We’ll be watching its progress.

We learned last year that Amazon is coming to Brea. The former Bank of America building at 275 Valencia Avenue is planned to become a huge Amazon warehouse-delivery facility.

The plan is for the 637,503-square foot, three-story office building to be torn down and a single-story, 181,500-square-foot, 44-foot tall Amazon warehouse built in its place.

So far, the project is being reviewed through an EIR or environmental impact report. After that, it will be presented to the Planning Commission. If the commissioners approve it, we can expect the former Bank of America building to go the way of the Sears buildings and its parking lot, unless the project is appealed. Then its fate will be determined by the City Council.

Lots of changes for Brea, but that is what keeps our town alive, or does it?

Terri Daxon is a freelance writer and the owner of Daxon Marketing Communications. She gives her perspective on Brea issues twice a month. Contact her at  daxoncomm@gmail.com.