Cypress Residents Vote In Favor Of Mixed-Use Plan To Redevelop 150-Acre Los Alamitos Race Course

The home of California Chrome will change to bring in new development when racing eventually stops at the Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress.

During last Tuesday’s primary election, Cypress residents voted in favor — 63.6% to 36.3% — of Measure A, an initiative to develop a mixed-use project, including a town center, an office building, retail, dining, entertainment, residential housing and park space on the 150-plus-acre Los Alamitos Race Course, the former Cypress Golf Course and other adjacent property.

“We are very pleased with the outcome of the election,” Los Alamitos Race Course Facilities Manager Frank Sherren wrote in an email to Bisnow. “Excited about what the city of Cypress can expect in the future. Enjoyed working closely with community and city leaders and would like to thank everybody that supported us along the way.”

Opened in 1951, the Los Alamitos Race Course is considered one of the premier horse-racing venues nationwide. The racecourse is the home of California Chrome, a two-time Horse of the Year winner, who nearly pulled off the Triple Crown in 2014.

Many racetracks across the nation have struggled along with the horse-racing industry and have offered land ripe for development of large projects.

Owner Ed Allred, who is in his 80s, said he plans to keep the racetrack open for as long as possible but, given property values, does not see a successor wanting to do the same. He expects the racetrack to remain open for about 10 more years. 

The approval of Measure A comes about a year and a half after Cypress residents narrowly voted against a similar proposal, Measure GG, in November 2016. Under Cypress law, residents have to vote for zoning changes on certain public property.

Since that vote, Los Alamitos Race Course officials worked with community leaders to redraft the plan, including limiting the height of the commercial structures, creating two parks on separate areas and changing the layout of where the town center can be built. 

After the passage of Measure A, Allred assured his employees and the public the racetrack is not closing anytime soon.

“The passage of Measure A will not impact the operations of the Los Alamitos Race Track,” Allred said in a letter. “The only scheduled next step is that the city of Cypress will develop a park on the 8.8 acres that has been donated on property that was not critical to race track operations.  

“The primary purpose of Measure A was estate planning and to provide the city with a plan that would lay out the long term allowed uses for the property. The main emphasis at this point is that horse racing will continue at the track for many years to come. I believe this is a very good land use plan for the city of Cypress, and I am greatly appreciative that the voters agreed.”