Project Data:

Completion Date:     11/1/2024

Square Footage:      104137

Building Use:           For Rent, Apartment Community, Mixed-Use

Project Description:

Placed on the narrow 2-acre site between a historic downtown and railroad tracks lies 79 market-rate and affordable apartments and 14,000 square feet of commercial and amenities. There will be a mix of studio and two-bedroom units. 137 on-site parking spaces will be provided, some of which will be for residents and some of which will be for commercial patrons. Ground floor commercial and restaurant spaces promote pedestrian access and window shopping along the tree lined street.

This community-oriented development is designed to meet the needs of an established, growing downtown, while respecting the historic location. A combination of housing, commercial space and a civic plaza is seen as a catalyst for revitalization of an underutilized downtown. A strong local affinity for the historic site required the scale and character to be maintained while introducing the first residential uses and density to the neighborhood. The buildings reimagine agrarian farm structures, Southern Pacific train stations, and brick citrus processing buildings along the railroad. All structures are new yet give the appearance of repurposed buildings.

Freestanding commercial /restaurant buildings wrap around a public green space that serves as a place for community. Historic Pepper trees were maintained along the street and within the plaza. The plaza and access to parking also align with the existing street network. The ideal location allows residents to commute by rail without needing a car while simultaneously attracting visitors directly from the adjacent train and bus station.

Framework for Design Excellence

As the largest development in the area, the site has been the City’s train hub for over a century and aims to serve as a catalyst to increase local development to turn the historic downtown into a lively destination to attract residents and non-residents alike. Placed on a long thin lot at the mouth of the Amtrak and Metrolink commuter trains, a series of small shops and restaurants will funnel into a large open plaza. The area is predominantly single-family residences, so through the revitalization, multi-family residences and commercial space will activate the property with people coming and going from the storefronts, window gazing, eating, drinking, and connecting with family and friends.

The architecture will create a blended Industrial and Farmhouse aesthetic to pay homage to the area’s rich history. Three stand-alone commercial buildings will be centered around the 8,100 square foot community plaza and green space and will resemble the area’s agricultural and industrial buildings with reclaimed wood, silos, and roll-up doors characterizing the exteriors. Additional commercial space will be on the ground floor of the residences, bringing the total to 13,600 square feet of commercial space overall.

The development is designed to match the existing buildings downtown including the fire station and the granary structure, which was built in the late 1970s. Existing pepper trees throughout the site, a designated county landmark, and large ash trees along the southern portion of the property will be preserved.

Firm Name:              WHA | Architects. Planners. Designers

Completion Date:     11/1/2024

Square Footage:      104137

Building Use:           For Rent, Apartment Community, Mixed-Use

Location:                 Moorpark, CA

Design Architect:
WHA | Architects. Planners. Designers

Associate Architect or Firm:
Dicecco Architecture, Inc. (Architect of Record)

Landscape Architect:
MJS Landscape Architecture

Owner / Developer:
Daly Group, Inc.

Engineer:
Jensen Design & Survey

General Contractor:

Consultant:

Photographer:
Dicecco Architecture, Inc. (Renderings)