For some people, the holidays and the end of the year offer a chance to reflect back on their accomplishments, while for others, it’s a time for optimism and looking ahead to the New Year. At Beach Cities Health District, we’re doing both this December.
Earlier this month, in response to an electrical fire and power outage at the Casa de Los Amigos apartment complex, we dispatched a team of staff and volunteers to assist Casa residents, who had to evacuate their apartments, which had no electricity for five days. This assistance included working with property management and the Redondo Beach Fire Department to identify residents who needed physical assistance to get out of their apartments; helping place residents in hotels while the power was out; and providing meals and groceries to assist residents during their time of need.
I am extremely proud of the way our community stepped up to help their neighbors, with staff and volunteers contributing nearly 200 hours of time, from helping move out of their apartments, bringing meals to them while they were displaced, and ultimately helping residents move back in and providing groceries and gift cards to replace items which spoiled due to the power outage.
I am also grateful for the many donors who contributed $15,530 of monetary and in-kind donations (groceries and other supplies) to assist the Casa residents. It was uplifting to see the community respond to this urgent, unexpected need. The Beach Cities’ compassion and quick response helped alleviate a truly difficult situation for these residents.
I would also like to thank the many community members who continue to give in support of BCHD programs, including allcove Beach Cities, Holiday Gift Bags and the Center for Health & Fitness. Your generosity is helping expand access to youth mental health services, support older adults during the holidays and fund new equipment for our fitness center relocation.
Now looking ahead, there are some great things planned for BCHD in 2026.
We are taking multiple steps forward with the Healthy Living Campus project, beginning with two renovation projects at 510 N. Prospect Avenue, creating a new home for our Center for Health & Fitness (CHF) and bringing a new Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly provider, or PACE. Both of these projects are expected to begin work in the first half of 2026 and be complete by early 2027.
This fall, the BCHD Board of Directors directed staff to move forward with construction of a permanent allcove Beach Cities facility at the corner of Beryl Street and Flagler Lane. Our team is hard at work with planning and taking steps to make the construction as cost effective as possible, to meet the needs of 12–25-year-olds in the South Bay. This construction is expected to begin around midyear. (In related news, allcove Beach Cities is expecting to reach the milestone of 2,000 enrolled young people during the first quarter of 2026!)
Finally, in November the BCHD Board named Mar Ventures and Continental Development Corporation as its preferred development team for the upcoming redevelopment of the former South Bay Hospital site. We are working to prepare a Letter of Intent to initiate discussions for a ground lease agreement with Mar Ventures/Continental, and will report back to the Board with an update at their January 28 meeting.
As we downshift over the holidays, let’s celebrate what we’ve been able to accomplish together and the services we’ve been able to provide for others. Let’s also ready ourselves for the new projects and programs coming our way. 2026 is shaping up to be an impactful year for BCHD!
Best wishes to you and yours during the holidays, and here’s to a happy, safe and productive 2026!
In health,
Tom Bakaly, CEO
Beach Cities Health District
