Urban Commons Announces Development Of 30-Year Queen Mary Historic Preservation Blueprint
- The evolving long-term plan will map out preservation projects, with peer-led annual inspections and ‘close-up’ surveys every five years
- Partnership formed between Queen Mary’s Historic Resources Advisor and industry experts
- Blueprint will utilize past surveys and reports, to inform deliverable and measurable plan
LONG BEACH, CA (Jan. 16, 2020) – Urban Commons, a Los Angeles-based real estate investment and development firm and current leaseholder of the Queen Mary, will reveal a 30-year plan to preserve and improve the historic ship docked in Long Beach.
The first-of-its-kind plan will outline major renovations with their associated costs, to safeguard the ship’s entire framework as well as maintaining its iconic image.
“Urban Commons is pleased to announce the next step in the ongoing preservation efforts aboard the Queen Mary,” said John Thomas, Historic Resources Advisor at The Queen Mary. “We are working with a Marine Surveyor and Structural Engineer to create a plan that covers aesthetic, structural and engineering issues – not only covering the state of these areas today, but anticipating decades of continuous work with associated capital investment.
“Utilizing information pertinent to the ship’s preservation from Environmental and Engineering Reports, a 2015 Marine Survey and local Marine Studies, Urban Commons has retained the services of a A.M. Marine Surveys LLC and John A. Martin Associates, Inc. to perform a peer review of these previous studies and develop a 30-year implementation plan. The Historic Preservation Blueprint will determine and prioritize preservation projects with their related costs, address any further studies and establish a comprehensive maintenance and monitoring plan for the historic Queen Mary.”
Annual inspections are part of the 30-year plan, as well as ‘close-up surveys’ every five years. These reviews ensure that not only is the plan being implemented, but updating and re-prioritizing the plan if needed. Then, every ten years, an additional decade will be added to the plan, using experience as well as ongoing work and inspections from the years previous.
Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia said in his State of the City speech on January 14, “They [Urban Commons] will be developing a Historic Preservation Blueprint, accessible and transparent to the public, that will map out the preservation projects and critical repairs.”
“During her life, the Queen Mary has transported royalty and refugees, soldiers and celebrities, and now she lives in Long Beach as a historic international treasure,” said Howard Wu, Principal at Urban Commons. “Akin to the ship herself, while we need a robust and realistic blueprint, this plan must be flexible with the ability to evolve and pivot as needed.
“We have learned not only the amount of love and care the ship requires daily, but also completed crucial groundwork ensuring staff and guest safety. There have been many reports and surveys addressing the state of the Queen Mary, and while they may identify preservation projects of today, what about tomorrow, in five or ten years or when the historic ship will provide the iconic backdrop to the 2028 Olympics on the Long Beach waterfront? Maintenance and preservation on our iconic landmark is an ongoing investment, and this blueprint will outline exactly that.
“For the first time, Urban Commons has established additional income sources for the Queen Mary, which feed into a reserve fund to ensure the longevity of the ship. By utilizing the 40 surrounding acres, additional revenue will continue to be generated and we’re excited to share our updated plans for the area around the Queen Mary later this year.”
About Urban Commons
Urban Commons is a Los Angeles-based real estate investment and development firm with a successful track record of developing, repositioning and rebranding assets throughout the United States. The company focuses on improving under-managed and under-utilized assets by developing innovative solutions that promote optimal economic, social and environmental returns.
Since founding in 2008, Urban Commons has owned, operated and developed a variety of real estate properties including several dozen hotels, apartments, retail, office, and senior care, throughout the United States including the development of nearly one million square feet of commercial retail space.
Media Contact:
Fred Hulls – Urban Commons
fred@urban-commons.com