| In the early 1900s the Long Beach shoreline was a popular beach destination for many Southern Californians. By mid-century the downtown waterfront was in a state of decline and had lost its family appeal. Over the following forty years, the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency has applied revitalization strategies to the downtown waterfront in an effort to promote a positive city image and restore Long Beach as a tourist destination. A number of programs have been fostered which include designating the Queen Mary as the city's icon, expanding the convention center, developing the marina and Shoreline Village and building the Aquarium. However, due to the vast amount of vacant land, financial costs and managerial problems, redevelopment has been a struggle for city officials. Despite improvements made to the deteriorated downtown waterfront, Long Beach has yet to achieve the success it once had. |
