LONG BEACH, CA – It was an evening of multiple celebrations this past July 20^th as city officials and the general public came together to celebrate the collaborative efforts of City, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and a private developer, Ensemble, to transform a once-underutilized area on Seaside Way into a vibrant, new destination for the city.  Long Beach, California Mayor Robert Garcia and Councilwoman Jeannine Pearce kicked off the evening’s festivities.

Sonata Modern Flats Rendering

The evening’s festivities included the grand opening of the Cove an event space created out of a former underpass, and the soon-to-open Rainbow Bridge. Designed to connect visitors from ocean view to city view, the elevated pedestrian walkway is designed as a linear park and architectural showpiece.   The 605-foot, $11 million bridge, with its kaleidoscope of LED lights and innovative features, is destined to be a continuation of the Promenade, a connector between the Performing Arts Plaza and the Convention Center while acting as a central gathering place; a new iconic landmark of the city.

The event also celebrated the groundbreaking of Ensemble’s upcoming Sonata Modern Flats, a 112-unit for-lease residential address situated directly across from the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center at 207 E. Seaside Way in Downtown Long Beach. Sonata will feature dramatic ocean and city views, a rooftop deck with a plunge pool, outside kitchen and lounge seating, fitness center, and resident lounge. Construction is scheduled to be complete by late 2018.

“We’re excited about how Sonata Modern Flats and the Rainbow Bridge make each other better projects,” said Ensemble’s Tyson Sayles. “When Sonata is complete late next year, its public spaces, retail and café seating will connect directly out onto the Rainbow Bridge in order to provide a focal point for the elevated park and give people a reason to stop, hang out and interact.”

A number of multifamily projects are in the pipeline for Ensemble, many of which will be enhancing the skyline of Downtown Long Beach. Also currently under construction is 442 Residences, a five-story, for-lease residential community of 94 modern flats.  Adjacent to the 444 West Ocean office building, the project presents a unique live/work/play dynamic.

The July event also celebrated The Cove, the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center’s newest event venue. Located beneath the Terrace Theater Plaza, The Cove features LED-lit crystal chandeliers, barnacle-inspired lighting fixtures affixed to pillars, an underwater motif decorating the ceiling, and the full range of décor and furniture available to any group planning an event at the center.

Lastly, the event also paid tribute to another successful celebration of POW! WOW! Long Beach, the annual event that brings art and culture to public spaces by beautifying the city while cultivating community pride. Event attendees had the opportunity to mingle with the festival’s world-renowned artists while celebrating the culmination of Long Beach’s newest gigantic outdoor murals.

Sonata Modern Flats Groundbreaking – Ensemble Team