Long Beach has more than meets the eye and plenty of advantages over other parts of LA County.

That was the consensus at this year's Future of Long Beach event.

Mark Taylor, chief of staff in the office of Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, said the city needs to look at the private community as partners.

Long Beach is a city filled with great opportunities, according to Mark.

Mark said the city is "a willing partner in actively engaging" in Long Beach's transformation and encouraging companies to invest there.

One concern is Long Beach doesn't have enough jobs.

He urged companies to help build in Long Beach in a way that "makes us the best we can be" without tearing out "the heart and change what we have here."

More than 325 people showed up at Catalina Landing for the Long Beach event.

Maverick Investments principal Kurt Schneiter, Studio One Eleven founding senior principal Alan Pullman, Edgemoor Infrastructure director Jeff Fullerton, AndersonPacific EVP Ryan Altoon and JR van Dijs principal Jan Robert van Dijs all discussed the "new urban experience" in downtown Long Beach on a panel moderated by Environ Architecture principal Alan Burks.

It was agreed Long Beach is development-friendly.

Jeff said it's also a more welcoming environment than some other cities where it seems there is a fight to get things built.

Kurt said one of the great things about Long Beach is "we're a humble, large city."

Long Beach is also appealing because it is more affordable compared to other parts of LA, according to the panelists.

Jan said he believes Long Beach is finally reaching the "tipping point between commercial inventory and residential living."