We are excited to share what’s ahead for the Newport-Mesa Family YMCA.
Overview
The Newport-Mesa Family YMCA is being thoughtfully reimagined as a vibrant, inclusive community hub designed to inspire healthy living, lifelong learning, and meaningful connections. Nearly tripling in size, the expanded 50,000-square-foot campus is rooted in the YMCA’s core mission to strengthen spirt, mind and body for all. This dynamic state-of-the-art campus will offer something for everyone—from wellness studios and tech labs to intergenerational gathering areas and youth enrichment zones. Every square foot is intentionally designed to foster belonging, connection, and growth—making the new Newport-Mesa YMCA a cornerstone of community life for generations to come.
Legacy
Since 1844, the YMCA has been a vital part of communities around the world. What began as a refuge for young men in London quickly expanded into a global movement rooted in service, support, and belonging. Soon thereafter, the YMCA introduced housing as a foundational element of its mission, providing not just shelter but a pathway to healing, growth, and community.
Today, the YMCA of Orange County is evolving that mission to meet the needs of a new era. This reimagined space — nearly three times the size of the original facility — is designed to bring people together, offering everything from active senior living and state-of-the-art fitness to tech labs, youth enrichment, and nature-inspired programming.
The YMCA is not only honoring its past—it’s creating a future where people of all ages can move, connect, and grow together. The Newport-Mesa Family YMCA continues to be not just part of the community’s history, but essential to its future.
YMCA New Amenities
Whether you’re a child discovering new interests, a teen exploring technology, an adult focused on wellness, or a senior staying socially and physically active, the new Newport-Mesa Family YMCA will be a space where everyone belongs and thrives.
Key highlights include:
- Lounge & Commons Areas that welcome members with warmth and provide comfortable places to gather and connect.
- A purpose-driven café—operated by YMCA New Horizons members—serving “coffee with a purpose,” where all proceeds go directly back to the community.
- A fully equipped teaching kitchen supporting hands-on classes for healthy living and culinary exploration.
- Multi-use spaces including a Tech Lab, STEM Zone, Mind & Body Studios, and an Intergenerational Room, encouraging cross-generational learning, innovation, and creativity.
- Dedicated spaces for youth including Kids’ Adventure, Child Watch, and age-specific enrichment rooms that foster development through play, movement, and discovery.
- A Recovery Studio, Universal Locker Room, and comprehensive wellness floor featuring cardio, strength, and functional training options.
- A gymnasium and year-round aquatics center offering everything from lap swimming and aqua fitness to youth swim camps and lifeguard training.
Active Senior Living
As Orange County’s population continues to age, the YMCA is responding – proposing a bold new approach to active senior housing.
The Perch Residences is a six-story, 105-unit independent living community for older adults that, in partnership with the nonprofit YMCA, promotes a vibrant, intergenerational lifestyle centered on wellness, connection, and lifelong engagement.
Adjacent to the proposed 50,000-square-foot Newport-Mesa Family YMCA, the project blends private residential amenities with shared access to expansive recreational facilities. This innovative model integrates older adult housing with a dynamic community hub, supporting the City’s housing goals, affordable housing needs, and broad recreational demands—including aquatic programs—while enriching lives across generations.
More than just a place to live, The Perch is a place to thrive. With tailored wellness programming, vibrant social opportunities, and easy access to fitness, enrichment, and intergenerational connection, The Perch empowers older adults to live healthier, fuller lives.
The YMCA is proud to lead the way in redefining what aging well looks like in Orange County—with dignity, purpose, and community at the heart.
The Perch Features & Amenities
The 105 residences will include a mix of one- and two-bedroom units. Each unit is designed for comfort, accessibility, and aging in place, featuring:
- Open-concept layouts with natural light
- Modern kitchens with energy-efficient appliances
- In-unit laundry
- Walk-in showers and older adult-friendly fixtures
- Private balconies or patios (select units)
- Emergency call systems and secure access
Common Indoor Amenity Spaces
Residents have access to a variety of indoor spaces that foster community and wellness:
- Lobby: An inviting area that offers comfortable seating, natural light, and a relaxed atmosphere—perfect for socializing, relaxing, or joining community activities
- Lounge Areas: Comfortable seating, social gathering zones, and concierge-style services
- Community Room: For resident meetings, events, and programming
- Library or Quiet Room: Reading, reflection, and small group activities
- Mail & Package Room: Secure and accessible
- Leasing Office: On-site management and resident services
Outdoor Recreational & Amenity Spaces
The building integrates outdoor spaces designed for relaxation and activity:
- Landscaped Courtyards: With shaded seating, walking paths, and garden areas
- Rooftop Terrace: Offering views and space for social events or quiet enjoyment
- Spa: Heated spa with therapeutic jets, ideal for relaxation and muscle relief
- Pet Relief Area: For residents with small pets
- Outdoor Dining & BBQ Area: For informal gatherings and resident-hosted events
- Direct access to the Back Bay Nature Preserve and all its amenities
Community Benefits
At the YMCA of Orange County, our commitment to strengthening communities is more than a mission—it’s part of our culture. Our Social Purpose Model puts that commitment into action by reinvesting revenue from mission-aligned programs and services back into the people and communities we serve, and the staff who make our work possible. This approach allows us to meet real needs, sustain our impact, and support the people who make it all possible. When we invest in each other, we build stronger, healthier, and more connected communities for everyone.
The Perch Residences will offer an affordable housing component reserved for low-income households under the State Density Bonus Law. The project not only meets the City’s housing goals, affordable housing needs and broad ranging recreational demands with expansive aquatic facilities but also enriches lives across generations.
Contact Us
Frequently Asked Questions
Member Questions
Our goal is to offer a variety of programs and services. We are currently working with various entities to develop a plan.
All memberships will be temporarily paused unless you are enrolled in one of our alternative programs or actively visiting one of our four other YMCA locations. Please click this link to see the four other locations.
Membership costs will not change as a direct result of the renovation project. Fees may increase in the future due to annual fee schedule changes.
Yes. However, we will be offering an Aquatics Community membership option for those who only want to use the pool.
Project Specific
Construction is anticipated to begin in late 2026 and is expected to take approximately 18-22 months to complete. Project specific construction updates will be shared, and notices will be provided to nearby residents and businesses to ensure ongoing communication throughout the construction period.
No, both portions of the project will be built concurrently. This will help minimize construction-related impacts to the neighborhood and shortens the overall project timeline.
A new parking structure will be built on the east side (rear) of the property to provide sufficient parking for both the residential community and YMCA members and staff. Specifically, there will be 124 dedicated parking spaces for residents plus an additional 320 spaces to accommodate YMCA Members and staff.
The project’s parking plan has been designed in full compliance with the City of Newport Beach parking standards. Adequate on-site parking minimizes potential spillover impacts to University Drive and other nearby neighborhood streets.
The project does not trigger Green Light (Measure S) because the proposed residential count is below 100 units.
The YMCA has a long history of providing housing opportunities. In fact, the organization first began offering housing in the 1860s to support individuals seeking safe, affordable lodging in growing cities. That legacy continues today as housing remains one of the most pressing issues facing communities across California.
The City of Newport Beach identified the YMCA site as a housing candidate in its 2021-2029 Housing Element, recognizing the opportunity to combine quality housing with expanded community amenities.
The residential portion of the project will include 105 active senior living rental units with 20% of the homes reserved as affordable units for low-income seniors.
The YMCA will also expand its current footprint to 51,096 square feet of active recreational and community-based space. Planned amenities include fitness and aquatic facilities, multipurpose studios, a childcare facility, a small coffee shop, group classrooms and community gathering areas that will serve both YMCA members and neighborhood residents. Together, the new housing and upgraded YMCA will create an intergenerational hub that promotes health, connection and lifelong well-being for the entire community.
The YMCA of Orange County is funding the project through private fundraising and YMCA financing.
As part of our commitment to the community, we have commissioned an independent traffic study. This study will identify potential challenges and recommend solutions to minimize impacts.
No. The City is not funding any part of the project.
Environmental Questions
The project will incorporate a comprehensive water runoff mitigation system designed to protect nearby natural resources, including the Back Bay. This system will capture and treat 100% of on-site runoff, ensuring that all stormwater is managed in accordance with the water quality standards established by the State Water Resources Control Board.
Collected water will be filtered and treated before being recycled or released, preventing pollutants or sediments from entering the Back Bay. These measures are part of the project’s commitment to environmental sustainability and compliance with local and state water quality regulations.
The proposed buildings will be constructed in accordance with the California Building Code, which requires the integration of sustainability features such as solar energy systems, electric vehicle charging stations, and high-efficiency water and energy systems.
In addition, the project will incorporate best management practices for stormwater quality. They systems will capture and treat stormwater runoff on-site prior before it enters the City’s stormwater system, reducing pollutants and protecting nearby natural resources, including the Back Bay.
Yes, the project is required to be approved by the Coastal Commission as it falls within the City of Newport Beach coastal zone. The City’s local coastal permit has been approved and includes approval of the YMCA project.
No. The Newport Mesa YMCA reinvestment project meets certain, specific, standards which make it eligible for automatic approval or “by-right” processing.
The Newport Mesa YMCA reinvestment project meets certain, specific, standards which make it eligible for automatic approval or “by-right” processing.
California Housing Element laws, specifically Govt Code 65583.2 (c), requires cities and jurisdictions to rezone for “by-right” (meaning ministerial, CEQA-exempt) processing for certain sites. This means that eligible projects can be automatically approved if it meets certain criteria within the jurisdiction’s housing element.
This approach is used to encourage housing production by streamlining the approval process, particularly for projects that include affordable housing or help meet state mandates housing goals.
State law dictates that Housing Elements require agencies to rezone for “by-right” processing for specific sites in the housing element as long as they meeting certain criteria. The YMCA project is eligible for by-right processing because it meets the following criteria:
- The project is a residential or mixed-use development in a Housing Opportunity (HO) Overlay Zone
- 20% of the proposed housing units are reserved for low and very low-income residents
- A minimum of 50% of the floor area of mixed-use development is dedicated to residential uses
- The project meets other standards, including those related to the Housing Opportunity – Airport Environs Area and Multi-unit Objective Design Standards.
Over the course of several years, the city conducted an extensive planning and public outreach process to update their Housing Element in compliance with state law. The City of Newport Beach has been directed by the state in the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) to identify and build 4,845 new housing units for the 2021-2029 planning period.
Newport, Together, a community-based effort and the Housing Element Advisory Committee had a series of town hall meetings to seek input from residents and asked them to identify locations for potential future housing. The YMCA property at 2300 University Drive was included in the updated Housing Element as a site for future housing.
Last fall, the Newport Beach City Council approved an update to the city’s General Plan that included residential zoning on specific parcels that trigger “by-right” processing per the state. The YMCA Newport Mesa location was zoned for new housing in the updated General Plan.
The YMCA takes pride in being a good neighbor and community partner. They are meeting with the surrounding neighbors to share the plans for the new YMCA and adjacent housing and address any questions or concerns.
Today and every day, we strive to make a positive impact on individuals, families and communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. We are excited to bring this new project to the community of Newport Beach.
There are no mitigation measures for the project as it would be exempt from CEQA.
The project site falls within a zone that permits housing development. All plans follow John Wayne Airport safety guidelines. These rules are designed to make sure any housing meets strict safety and noise standards.
The Airport Land Use Commission raised concerns about consistency with certain airport planning guidelines, but the City Council approved housing on this site in July 2024, finding it safe and in line with state aeronautics regulations.
Airplane noise will be heard since the site is under the flight. However, the buildings will be designed to reduce noise by using special materials such as soundproof windows, insultation, and acoustic panels.
Senior Housing
20% of the units will be reserved for very-low and low-income senior residents.
The residential units will be available for adults 55 years of age and older.
Several floor plans are available, these include:
One bedroom models will range from 597-904 square feet (some include a den)
Two bedroom models will range from 1093-1233 square feet (some include a den)
The exact cost to rent an apartment will depend on several factors, including the model and size selected. At this time, we’re still finalizing the details. We’ll share more information as soon as it becomes available.
There will be a small coffee shop located between the YMCA and the residential units. The coffee shop is intended to be utilized by YMCA members, the residents, and YMCA staff located on site.
The YMCA will contract with a property management company who specializes in senior accommodations. The YMCA will also have staff liaisons that work with the property management company and the residents that offer support and connection between the residential and YMCA facility.
Yes, becoming a resident entitles individuals to become members of the YMCA for no additional cost.
The 105 residences will include a mix of one- and two-bedroom units. Each unit is designed for comfort, accessibility, and aging in place, featuring:
- Open-concept layouts with natural light
- Modern kitchens with energy-efficient appliances
- In-unit laundry
- Walk-in showers and older adult-friendly fixtures
- Private balconies or patios (select units)
- Emergency call systems and secure access
Common Indoor Amenity Spaces
Residents have access to a variety of indoor spaces that foster community and wellness:
- Lobby: An inviting area that offers comfortable seating, natural light, and a relaxed atmosphere—perfect for socializing, relaxing, or joining community activities
- Lounge Areas: Comfortable seating, social gathering zones, and concierge-style services
- Community Room: For resident meetings, events, and programming
- Library or Quiet Room: Reading, reflection, and small group activities
- Mail & Package Room: Secure and accessible
- Leasing Office: On-site management and resident services
Outdoor Recreational & Amenity Spaces
The building integrates outdoor spaces designed for relaxation and activity:
- Landscaped Courtyards: With shaded seating, walking paths, and garden areas
- Rooftop Terrace: Offering views and space for social events or quiet enjoyment
- Spa: Heated spa with therapeutic jets, ideal for relaxation and muscle relief
- Pet Relief Area: For residents with small pets
- Outdoor Dining & BBQ Area: For informal gatherings and resident-hosted events
- Direct access to the Back Bay Nature Preserve and all its amenities