Long Beach Halts Motel 6 Shelter Conversion, Expands City-Run Homeless Services in District 6

Motel 6 - 1121 E Pacific Coast Hwy. Photo by Jackie Rae

After weeks of community pushback and continued dialogue, the City of Long Beach announced major changes to its homelessness response strategy during a follow-up meeting with residents, business owners, and stakeholders in District 6.

During a November 20 meeting, city leaders confirmed that the Motel 6 along the Pacific Coast Highway corridor will not be converted into a homeless shelter — a reversal based on concerns raised during an October 31 community meeting. According to officials, negotiations to master lease the property for shelter use have been permanently halted.

Mayor Rex Richardson said the decision reflects the city’s commitment to balancing expanded services with neighborhood preservation.

“The community spoke, and we listened,” Richardson said. “We’re taking a comprehensive approach that expands services while protecting the character and safety of our neighborhoods.”

As part of the revised plan, the city will assume direct operation of two motels previously managed by outside entities: the Colonial Motel and the Rocky Motel.

The Colonial Motel will transition to city management and offer enhanced services, including on-site case management, meals, 24-hour security, and increased staffing. The city will also take over operations at the Rocky Motel, a move officials say eliminates the need to add any new shelter facilities along the PCH corridor.

City leaders emphasized that these changes result in no net increase in homeless facilities within District 6, a primary concern raised by residents during earlier meetings.

In response to calls for neighborhood-based solutions, the city has designated 10 beds at a Project Homekey site in North Long Beach specifically for individuals experiencing homelessness within the sixth district. Officials say the goal is to ensure local resources serve local residents rather than drawing new populations into the area.

The city also announced plans to invest in partnerships with local businesses, initially proposing $500,000 in funding for meal contracts and supportive services. During the meeting, Richardson verbally increased that target to $1 million, signaling an expanded effort to strengthen the local economy while supporting homeless services.

The district will also see an increase in outreach services, including deployment of the city’s Mobile Access Center and prioritized engagement at locations such as Colonial Motel, Chittick Field, Hill Street Bridge, Rosa Parks Park, NAACP Park, and Jenny Rivera Park.

Community leaders also pressed city officials for long-overdue improvements to the PCH corridor, particularly in light of the upcoming 2028 Olympics and the long-discussed MLK Park Vision Plan. Richardson acknowledged those concerns and committed to sharing more detailed beautification plans in future meetings.

The city is currently developing a detailed implementation timeline, which is expected to be shared at a follow-up community meeting within the next two to three weeks or before any major operational changes occur at the Colonial Motel.

Leaders have also requested aggregated data detailing LA County and Long Beach shelter bed numbers, locations, and operators by the end of 2025. City leaders say coordination with LA County is ongoing as facility transitions and funding allocations are finalized.