First workshop on Aug. 13, will focus on community history and early concept design

The City of Long Beach invites community members to participate in a series of public workshops to help shape the design of a new public space for the historic VIP Records sign. Located on the southwest corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach, the future space will celebrate the cultural legacy and lasting impact of VIP Records through community-informed design elements and community input opportunities. The first workshop is on Aug.13, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center located at 1950 Lemon Ave.

For more than 40 years, VIP Records served as a cultural landmark and a cornerstone of Long Beach’s hip-hop music scene, championing local artists and bringing community members together through music and culture. In 2017, the City Council directed the City Manager to secure an agreement with World Famous VIP, LLC, for the removal, restoration, historical landmark designation and temporary storage of the iconic VIP Records sign. In 2018, the sign was officially designated as a Long Beach historical landmark in recognition of its cultural and historical significance. As part of an ongoing preservation effort, the Department of Public Works will restore and relocate the sign to the southwest corner parcel at Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway, where it will serve as the centerpiece of a new public space honoring VIP Records’ rich legacy and enduring impact in the Long Beach community. The final placement of the sign within the site will be informed by community outreach and feedback.

At the first workshop, participants will have the opportunity to share personal stories, memories and community history related to VIP Records and provide feedback on early concept design elements for the site via interactive activities. A second workshop is anticipated to be held in the fall, during which the City will present conceptual designs for the space and gather additional community input before the project advances to the final design phase. Community feedback collected throughout the engagement process will help inform the final design and site features. A refinement and celebration will be held thereafter to present the final design.

This workshop series builds upon previous community engagement efforts for sixth district Elevate ‘28 projects. In February 2025, the City hosted a community meeting where the Department of Public Works, with support from the Long Beach Public Library, provided an overview of several planned infrastructure projects and facilitated an interactive discussion with attendees. The event provided an opportunity for holistic conversations about investments planned to enhance the sixth district and the feedback and questions shared during that meeting helped inform ongoing project development.

The City has partnered with Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI), a nonprofit community development and design organization, to lead the project’s design and engagement process. Over the next year, the City and KDI will conduct community outreach activities and advance site design efforts. Construction of the new public space and installation of the restored VIP Records sign are anticipated to begin in Spring 2027, with project completion expected by Fall 2027.

The project is supported by $735,000 in General Fund and Measure A funding and is included in the Elevate ‘28 Infrastructure Investment Plan, which has grown to over $1 billion in funding for nearly 200 projects designed to revitalize parks and community facilities while enhancing accessibility and multimodal transportation throughout Long Beach. More information about the historic investment in infrastructure currently underway is available at lbelevate28.com.

For more information, and to sign up for project updates, visit lbcity.info/VIPRecordsProject.