Beach Cities Health District launches RFEOI for former South Bay Hospital site; council receives update amid resident concerns

Redondo Beach City Council received a presentation from Tom Backley of the Beach Cities Health District on July 22 about a Request for Expression of Interest (RFEOI) to identify potential health‑oriented redevelopment partners for portions of the former South Bay Hospital campus.

Backley said the district intends to vacate portions of the 514 Prospect (the former hospital building) and to relocate some planned uses into an existing building on the campus known as the 510 Building. He briefed the council on components the district intends to keep on its “Healthy Living Campus,” including a medically accredited Center for Health and Fitness (approximately 2,500 users currently on the second floor of the old hospital) and a planned PACE provider (Program of All‑Inclusive Care for the Elderly). Backley said the Jewish Community Home is entering into a lease for a PACE operation at the 510 Building, and the district expects a lease will allow those services to remain on campus.

Backley described the RFEOI parameters the district is issuing to evaluate development proposals for the 514 Prospect building and parking to the north. The RFEOI sets a maximum building height of 60 feet, a density cap of 1.25 floor‑area ratio, and expresses a preference for locating new development near the center of the site rather than at the property edges to reduce neighborhood impacts. The district said it expects to receive submissions in August, conduct community engagement in October and aim for a board decision in November. Backley said the district is seeking proposals that align with its health mission and generate revenue to support the district’s programs; he said the district would require seismic safety work either through demolition or adaptive reuse if a partner were to use the older building.

Backley also updated the council on Allcove, the district’s youth drop‑in mental health center (presented in the transcript with varying spellings). He reported about 4,800 visits by Redondo Beach youth over nearly three years, with roughly 545 youth receiving free services; approximately half of Allcove’s users come from the three beach cities and the program is funded in part by state grants and district funds. Backley said the district is finalizing grant applications and hoped to continue Allcove’s pilot funding.

After the presentation the council received significant public comment. Several speakers, including Mark Nelson and Daryl Boyd, opposed potential development at the site and said previous environmental review and public outreach raised serious neighborhood concerns about traffic, noise and property values. Nelson and others criticized prior master‑plan presentations as inconsistent and said many EIR comment letters had been negative; he also questioned the affordability and long‑term funding structure for large service facilities. Daryl Boyd urged city officials to protect the Prospect Avenue neighborhood from increased traffic and to seek solutions on the residents’ behalf. Other speakers, including residents and supporters, praised Allcove’s services and urged the district and city to preserve health services and public open space.

Council members asked clarifying questions about the RFEOI’s scope and timing. Council member Obagi confirmed the RFEOI casts a wider net than previous solicitations and is not limited to residential care for the elderly (RCFE); potential uses listed in the RFEOI include affordable housing, medical office and behavioral health. Backley said moving the Center for Health and Fitness and a PACE provider into the 510 Building is intended to reduce near‑term development pressure on other parts of the campus and to centralize services.

Council members made no action on land use at the meeting; staff and the district characterized the briefing as informational and the council “received and filed” the presentation. Council members said they may call the district back for more information after additional public input and evaluation of RFEOI responses.

The district’s RFEOI lists specific site controls and a desired alignment with the district’s mission; residents asked the city to monitor any future applications for zoning, entitlements or modifications that would affect the Prospect Avenue and Diamond Street neighborhoods.