EV Development Center Locates in Douglas Park

While it’s earned the informal name of “Space Beach,” the Douglas Park commercial district in Long Beach is housing a lot more than intergalactic transport companies.

If you go visit the newly opened Ford Electric Vehicle Development Center at 3555 E. Conant Street in Long Beach, you’ll be amazed at how many more employers are based right around the automaker. Across the street toward the Long Beach Airport runways, you’ll see signs showing that the expansion will be continuing.

On Tuesday, Aug. 5, the automaker officially opened its doors to the new 250,000-square foot site. Ford calls it the Electric Vehicle Design Center, and it’s filled with a team working on upcoming, lower-cost midsize models. That will include a midsize electric pickup truck.

The automaker has been hiring former Tesla, Rivian and Apple engineers to come work at its new two-building EV design center, according to news sources. Ford says it will be its main design and innovation hub in Southern California.

Ford first used the facility 95 years ago to expand production of its first vehicle, the Model A. That site was later converted for military use during World War II.

Douglas Park, a 200-acre spread located near the corner of Carson Street and Lakewood Boulevard in Long Beach, was part of a wider area for McDonnell Douglas and later Boeing that would see built several different airplane models built up through the final plant closures of 2015.

That land, which extended out to Cherry Avenue, would see a broad range of military and commercial airplanes manufactured there, including DC-10, MD-80 series, MD-11, 747 and through the final days, the C-17 miliary cargo plane that Boeing was manufacturing.

Ford’s Future Neighbors

There are covered fences across the street from Ford, on the airport side. They have signs that include the names of major developers and other firms – Millie and Severson, SRG Commercial (Sares-Regis Group), DRA Architects and Michael Baker International. Beyond the fences, you’ll see several acres of undeveloped land.

That parcel of land is part of the final expansion and build-out of the larger Douglas Park industrial development, says Christopher Koontz, director, Community Development for the City of Long Beach. Sares-Regis Group is the property owner, and the other firms listed on the signage are working under contract to SRG Commercial.

Larry Lukanish, Senior VP Development, SRG Commercial, says that six more buildings have been designed and approved at what’s now called Pacific Pointe West in the land adjacent to Ford. SRG is working with brokers at commercial real estate advisor Newmark to find tenants prior to starting any additional construction, Lukanish says

Ford’s current neighbors include Rubbercraft, Rocket Lab, United Pacific Industries, and Science Care. An even newer neighbor, Biogas Engineering is located in Airway Office Park, on Stineman Court and Cover St., right across from the Ford buildings.

Biogas Engineering says that it’s involved with biogas collection and utilization projects. Its mission is providing sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions for renewable energy projects.

Rubbercraft develops and manufactures precision-engineered custom elastomeric and rubber parts and components. Rocket Lab delivers launch services, spacecraft design and manufacturing, satellite components, flight software and more. United Pacific specializes in manufacturing parts for commercial trucks, as well as early Ford and Chevy components.

Science Care describes itself as being a body donation to science program that offers no-cost cremation. “The gift of whole body donation allows medical researchers and educators to practice, learn and create new techniques that continue to improve and save lives,” the company’s website says.

They’re located near to Long Beach Airport runways. A Rocket Lab employee told me that noise from the airport isn’t a concern for them. It doesn’t bother them.

Since the 2015 closing of the Boeing facilities, the city has seen continued expansion of Douglas Park. It now includes retail shopping stores, restaurants, office buildings and housing. The real estate market is seeing this expanding workforce buying houses in Long Beach and Lakewood.

Jon LeSage is a resident of Long Beach and a veteran business media reporter and editor. You can reach him at jtlesage1@yahoo.com.