Irvine reveled in another great year, reaping accolades for its high-ranking schools and abundant parks, as well as witnessing major new investments in thriving tech industries here.
PARKS
Hailed as the best in California – again
The Trust for Public Land named Irvine’s park system as the best in the state and the fourth-best in the United States for the second consecutive year, a recognition of the city’s more than 300 parks, created through a long-lasting partnership between Irvine Company and the city of Irvine. One-third of the master-planned city is dedicated for parks and open space – three times the national average – such that today, more than 9 of every 10 residents live within a 10-minute walk of open space.
REAL ESTATE
Strongest home value appreciation in the nation
Home values continued to appreciate faster in Irvine than in any other city in the country. Irvine’s extraordinary quality of life and thriving job market have made the difference. Over the past year, Irvine’s median home values increased 20.8%, according to a review of Zillow data by real estate analyst Home Economics. “The city’s popularity is nothing new,” the Los Angeles Times reported. “It’s more the continued affirmation of one of the nation’s largest master-planned communities.”
“The city’s popularity is nothing new. It’s more the continued affirmation of one of the nation’s largest master‑planned communities.”
Los Angeles Times
PARTNERSHIPS
A new gateway to nature
Irvine residents will gain expanded access to nature through the city’s new 700-acre Gateway Preserve. This preserve will feature 10 miles of new trails, including a bridge over Portola Parkway, connecting the Jeffrey Open Space Trail with Limestone Canyon, Black Star Canyon and the Cleveland National Forest. Created in partnership with Irvine Company, this project marks the first time residents will have uninterrupted access to this stretch of preserved land, allowing for recreation and appreciation of some of Orange County’s most scenic landscapes.
SPORTS
Championship teams abound in 2024
Beckman High School won its second CIF Southern Section Division 3 baseball championship, with Zach Ireland named Player of the Year for the division and Kevin Lavalle Coach of the Year. University High School’s boys tennis team won its first USTA State Championship. Irvine also sent several top athletes to the Paris Olympics, where former UC Irvine men’s volleyball players Kevin Tillie and David Smith won gold and bronze medals, respectively. In October, Irvine’s Meraquas artistic swim team won gold at the Junior Olympics.
CITY NEWS
What’s new in Irvine? Plenty!
Several new milestones showed the city just keeps getting better. The April launch of shuttle service Irvine Connect and this summer’s first concert at Great Park Live helped usher in a new era. Also in April, Irvine Valley College opened its $61 million, 63,000-square‑foot Arts Village complex. More reasons that readers of The Orange County Register voted Irvine as the “best city to live in” for the ninth consecutive year.
HEALTH
$3.4 billion in advanced projects
WalletHub and the American College of Sports Medicine ranked Irvine as one of the nation’s healthiest cities this year. One reason is the city’s world-class health care system, which is constantly improving, evidenced by major expansions by the region’s three largest hospital organizations, involving more than $3 billion in investments by Hoag, UCI Health and City of Hope. Over the summer, UCI opened two of three planned state-of-the-art facilities: the Joe C. Wen & Family Center for Advanced Care and the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Ambulatory Care building. “I’m so excited about the growth of our medical facilities, with specializations in areas like cancer, GI, geriatrics, women’s health and more,” Mayor Farrah N. Khan says.
“I’m so excited about the growth of our medical facilities, with specializations in areas like cancer, GI, geriatrics, women’s health and more.”
Mayor Farrah N. Khan
HIGH-TECH INVESTMENTS
Irvine is OC’s hub of innovation and technology
Some major new investments boosted the promise of Irvine’s job-rich, high-tech industries. Volkswagen announced it would invest up to $5 billion in Irvine-based EV manufacturer Rivian, and that the companies would collaborate to make EV software. Terran Orbital, the world’s leading provider of nanosatellites and microsatellites, was acquired by the defense giant Lockheed Martin in a $450 million deal.
RETAIL
New stores make a splash
Irvine shoppers were treated to a major makeover of the 30,000-square-foot Barnes & Noble bookstore and cafe and the mainland debut of the Hawaii-style footwear outlet OluKai, both at Irvine Spectrum Center. The Alton Marketplace hosted the long-awaited opening of the Bass Pro Shops superstore, featuring 3 acres of outdoor gear. Thousands of residents arrived hours before the doors opened to marvel at the store’s museum-scale aquarium and take selfies with race cars. “Irvine joins all our worlds,” General Manager Chris Beatty says. “There’s a strong saltwater interest here, and the mountains are nearby. We think everybody here will love what we offer.”
DINING
Cozy cooking and oysters land here
Irvine Spectrum Center is home to notable new restaurants Georgia’s and The Dive Oyster Bar. Despite the name, oysters are only the start at Johnny Nguyen’s new spot. Other lures are steam‑kettle cooking and the Cajun and Creole flavors associated with New Orleans’ storied French Quarter. At Georgia’s, Nika Shoemaker‑Machado introduces the down-home Southern recipes her mother learned from her grandmother – not just the signature fried chicken but also blackened catfish and fried green tomatoes. Another noteworthy opening saw renowned speakeasy/tiki bar creator Leonard Chan and highly regarded chef Nick Weber launch Cozy Pine at Quail Hill Shopping Center. The menu: “campground food for sophisticated palates.”
