By Eric Engelbert
Forster & El Camino: 95 New Apartments Approved Steps From Historic Downtown San Juan Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano does not change quickly. It is a mission town with a historic downtown, a famous swallow, and a long habit of debating almost every project that gets proposed. So when the City Council approved a new 95-unit apartment community in the heart of the historic district, it was worth paying attention to.
The project is called Forster & El Camino. It would bring market-rate apartments, a restaurant, and a fitness center to a vacant site near the Blas Aguilar Adobe Museum and the Historic Town Center Park, within a half mile of the San Juan Capistrano train station. A separate performing arts center is planned next door, though that piece has been more controversial.
The approvals are in place. What is not in place is a timeline. I could not find a groundbreaking date, an opening date, or rent information, so this post covers what has been approved and what is still unknown. If you are following Orange County's housing mandate, you can also see my New Developments in Orange County page.
The Project at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Vacant site of about 3.17 acres at Forster Street and El Camino Real, off Camino Capistrano, on the former Kimpton hotel site |
| Housing | 95 market-rate apartments, a mix of one and two bedrooms, up to four stories |
| Commercial | A restaurant of about 3,900 square feet and a 3,100-square-foot fitness center attached to the residential building |
| Affordable units | None. The developer did not use a density bonus. |
| Developer | Dan Almquist (Camino Capistrano OZ, LLC) |
| Plan area | The El Camino Specific Plan would expand to 7.3 acres to include the project and the performing arts center |
| Transit | Within a half mile of the San Juan Capistrano train station |
| Groundbreaking and opening | No dates announced |
Reports differ slightly on the restaurant size, ranging from about 3,800 to 3,900 square feet, so I used a rounded figure. The units are apartments, so when this project eventually opens it will be a leasing story, not a sales story.
The Developer
Dan Almquist is a San Juan Capistrano resident who has built a number of projects in town, including River Street Marketplace and Capistrano Plaza. He is also working on The Canopy, a retail and restaurant project at the Irvine Great Park. At the council meeting he said his goal is for these to be the nicest apartments in Orange County, and he described the likely renters as young professionals and local residents who might sell their homes in San Juan to move into a high-end rental. That is a useful clue about the target market: it is aimed at people who want to stay in town without owning a large house.
How the Approval Played Out
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| June 2023 | City Council starts a study to amend the El Camino Specific Plan to allow the project |
| April 2025 | City releases the environmental notice for the specific plan amendment |
| August 27, 2025 | Planning Commission takes up the project resolution |
| September 16, 2025 | City Council votes 3 to 1 to approve the residential and commercial components. Councilmember John Campbell votes no, and Councilmember John Taylor recuses himself because his son works for the developer. |
| January 20, 2026 | The city's notice of determination for the El Camino Specific Plan Amendment is dated this day. It records an Environmental Impact Report, mitigation measures, and a statement of overriding considerations. |
A statement of overriding considerations is a formal finding that a project's benefits outweigh environmental impacts that cannot be fully reduced. The city's filing says the project will have significant impacts, but in the documents I reviewed it did not spell out which ones. The full environmental report on the city's website would answer that.
The Debate: Market-Rate Only
The most pointed criticism was not about height or design. It was about who the apartments are for. Representatives of the housing nonprofit the Kennedy Commission wrote to the council that the city has made more progress approving above-moderate housing than meeting its low- and very low-income obligations, and argued that 95 market-rate apartments without any affordable component would widen that gap.
The Council's Response
Council members argued that any new housing helps. Councilmember Sergio Farias said the project adds a type of housing the city lacks. Councilmember Howard Hart asked what happens if the council denies it, pointing out that something will be built on that site either way. Mayor Troy Bourne noted that the site sits within a half mile of the train station, and that a state bill then pending, SB 79, would let developers build up to seven stories near major transit hubs regardless of local zoning. The bill had passed the Legislature and was awaiting the governor's signature at the time of the vote.
Where the Numbers Stand
The state requires San Juan Capistrano to plan for 1,054 new homes by 2029. That breaks down into 270 very low-income, 173 low-income, 183 moderate-income, and 428 above moderate-income units. The Forster & El Camino apartments would count toward the above-moderate category. The city's housing element was found in substantial compliance by the state in September 2022, and the city has since approved the zoning code amendments that implement it.
The Performing Arts Center Next Door
The second piece of the plan is a performing arts center of about 48,000 square feet with 450 seats: 350 in a main theater and 100 in a studio theater. It would be built on the eastern part of the city-owned Historic Town Center Park, with green space kept on the western side. The project is led by a nonprofit, SJC Performing Arts Center, run by volunteers who describe it as a gift to the city, and Almquist said he has worked on the plans for five years.
This part has moved more slowly because it uses public parkland. In September 2025 the council tabled the performing arts center entitlements to give the developer feedback on design and to discuss the land question, and it was tabled again afterward. In January 2026, the council advanced a resolution for the center. A land transaction on the park still requires further negotiation and approval, so I would treat the performing arts center as approved in concept but not yet a done deal.
A Realtor's Perspective: What This Could Mean for San Juan Capistrano
It adds a missing type of housing. San Juan Capistrano is mostly single-family homes and condominiums. A new high-end rental community within walking distance of the historic downtown and the train station is a different product, and it could appeal to downsizers who want to sell a large house but stay in town. That could have a small effect on listings over time, but I would not overstate it. It is 95 units.
It could strengthen the downtown. Residents living within walking distance of restaurants and shops add steady foot traffic to the downtown, and the restaurant and fitness center are part of the same project. Whether that boosts nearby property values is hard to say, and I would not promise it.
Neighbors should watch the details. The site is in a historic district, with specific design review requirements, a parking plan, and traffic patterns around El Camino Real and Camino Capistrano. The council record shows those were discussed at length. If you live or own nearby, the city's staff reports and the environmental document are the places to see exactly what was approved.
Timing is open. Without a groundbreaking date, a financing announcement, or a leasing date, I would treat this as approved and not yet under construction. I will update this post if any of those are announced.
Key Numbers
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Apartment units | 95, all market-rate |
| Building height | Up to four stories |
| Project site | About 3.17 acres |
| Expanded El Camino Specific Plan area | 7.3 acres |
| Restaurant / fitness center | About 3,900 sq ft / 3,100 sq ft |
| Performing arts center | About 48,235 sq ft, 450 seats |
| City Council vote (September 16, 2025) | 3 to 1, one recusal |
| San Juan Capistrano housing mandate (through 2029) | 1,054 units |
| Distance to the train station | Within a half mile |
| Groundbreaking and opening dates | Not announced |
Thinking about buying or selling in San Juan Capistrano? Call or text me at 949-430-7500, or see more on my New Developments in Orange County page.
