Groundbreaking marks start of major transformation near Norwalk City Hall

NORWALK — City officials and developers broke ground Feb. 7 on The Walk, a large-scale mixed use development adjacent to Norwalk City Hall that is expected to significantly reshape the city’s civic core and serve as a new regional destination for dining, shopping, housing and entertainment.

The project, led by Primestor Development, spans more than 90,000 square feet of open-air retail space and is immediately adjacent to 320 new residential units, positioning The Walk as one of the most ambitious civic-adjacent developments in Southeast Los Angeles County.

City leaders joined federal and state representatives at the groundbreaking ceremony, including Mayor Jennifer Perez, City Manager Jesus Gomez, U.S. Rep. Linda Sánchez, state Sen. Bob Archuleta and Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco. Officials described the development as a long-planned effort to create a true downtown gathering place in Norwalk.

“For many years, residents have shared that in addition to existing local dining and shopping, there is a need in Norwalk for more options and a central place to gather as part of everyday community life,” Perez said at the ceremony. “The Walk reflects that input by bringing dining, shopping and entertainment together in one walkable public space.”

Designed as a pedestrian-first, open-air plaza, The Walk will include landscaped pathways, public seating areas and multiple retail buildings surrounding a central gathering space. The site sits at the intersection of Imperial Highway and Norwalk Boulevard, one of the city’s most heavily trafficked corridors, and is directly accessible from the 5, 605 and 105 freeways.

Project materials estimate the development has a 10-mile regional draw and is exposed to more than 800,000 vehicles per day across surrounding freeways and arterials, supported by prominent freeway monument signage and on-site pylon signage.

The Walk is surrounded by a dense employment base, with approximately 5,000 employees on site and more than 94,000 employees within three miles, including workers at Norwalk City Hall, the Norwalk Courthouse, Los Angeles County offices, the Sheriff’s Station and nearby educational institutions.

In addition to retail and residential uses, the project is expected to generate local construction jobs and long-term employment opportunities, while supporting small and local businesses and contributing to Norwalk’s long-term economic vitality.

“At Primestor, our mission is to build places that serve as anchors for the communities we are privileged to serve,” said Arturo Sneider, chief executive officer of Primestor. He said The Walk reflects the company’s focus on collaboration with cities and creating access to goods, services and economic opportunity.

The development was designed by DLR Group, with an emphasis on human-centered, contextual design intended to complement the civic setting while encouraging everyday use. Jose Sanchez, a principal and mixed use design leader with the firm, said the goal was to create an open environment that fosters connection and community life.

Construction is now underway, with the project expected to deliver in early 2027, according to development materials. Primestor officials said they will remain actively engaged with the City of Norwalk and residents throughout the construction process.

More information about The Walk is available at VisitTheWalk.com and through project materials released by the development team.