Marina operators see their job as providing a safe, secure environment for boats on water. Real estate developers tend to view their mission as creating gracious living spaces. Both perspectives can be effective and valuable in creating attractive, unique marinas.

The Harbor at Marina Bay is undoubtedly one of the most beautifully tailored and fashionable marinas in Marina del Rey, near Santa Monica, California. AvalonBay Communities Inc owns and operates the marina and adjoining apartment complex. The marina provides the branding theme for the property and offers a tranquil and charming ambiance for the residents. It has 207 single-berth slips ranging from 22 ft. to 60 ft. and 11 side-tie slips. Side-tie slips can accommodate vessels up to 90 ft. The slips were at first offered exclusively to the apartment tenants, but are now available to the public.

AvalonBay, a nation-wide real estate investment trust, acquired the property in early 2013. Brad Romano, Senior Portfolio Operations Director, said, “We have enormous faith in the future of a revitalized Marina del Rey. The rental units were renovated to premium standards with numerous first-class amenities. AvalonBay and the previous owners wanted to set the bar high. We challenged our marina builder to create a very special marina with the same standards and amenities or better.”

The owners naturally brought a real estate perspective to the project with a focus on the residential units. As a result, the original 1960’s wood-dock marina underwent what might be called a “real estate” makeover. But if you think the marina was a neglected afterthought during the renovation, you would be wrong. Harbor at Marina Bay is a stunning, blue-chip, custom-designed marina in every way.

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