Posted October 21, 2026 | By Eric Engelbert | Updated as the project progresses.
Laguna Niguel has added more new apartments in the last decade than almost any other kind of housing, most of it in the Gateway district near Interstate 5 and the Metrolink station. Two newer projects stand out. Hanover Laguna Niguel, a 309-unit, six-story community on Forbes Road, is built and leasing now. Griffin Senior Living, a senior community planned next to Grace Church on La Plata Drive, has been approved but has not been built.
This post covers both projects: what they are, where they stand, what Hanover rents run today, and what they mean for renters, seniors and their families, and nearby homeowners.
At a Glance: October 2026
| Hanover Laguna Niguel | Griffin Senior Living | |
|---|---|---|
| Address | 27942 Forbes Rd (27912 to 27972 Forbes Rd site) | 24600 La Plata Dr, at Crown Valley Pkwy |
| Homes | 309 apartments | 108 senior living units |
| Who it serves | General renters | Seniors |
| Building | Six stories | Two stories with basement parking |
| Developer | Hanover Company with GID | Griffin Living |
| Approved | June 14, 2022 | May 16, 2023 |
| Status | Built 2024; now leasing | Approved; construction not yet announced |
Hanover Laguna Niguel: 309 Apartments on Forbes Road
The Laguna Niguel Housing Element calls this project "South Forbes." It replaced three commercial buildings from the late 1970s on Forbes Road in the Gateway Specific Plan area, just north of the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Metrolink station. The city approved it in June 2022 at about 119 units per acre, more than double the Gateway's 50-unit base density, in exchange for public benefits. Houston-based Hanover Company and investment partner GID formed a joint venture to build it, financed by a $99 million construction loan in October 2022, and the community was completed in 2024.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | Hanover Laguna Niguel |
| Address | 27942 Forbes Road, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 |
| Homes | 309 apartments in a six-story building, with retail |
| Unit types | Studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments |
| Unit sizes | About 606 to 1,432 sq ft |
| Developer | Hanover Company and GID joint venture |
| Construction financing | $99 million loan led by Citizens (October 2022) |
| Approved | June 14, 2022 (density about 119 units per acre) |
| Completed | 2024 |
| Location | Gateway district near I-5, SR-73, and the Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Metrolink station |
Rents (Advertised, October 2026)
| Unit Type | Size | Advertised Starting Rents |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | About 606 to 653 sq ft | About $2,490 to $2,600 |
| One bedroom | About 675 to 863 sq ft | About $2,520 to $3,980 |
| Two bedroom | About 1,025 to 1,432 sq ft | About $3,390 to $4,200 |
Rents are advertised online listing ranges as of October 2026, before utilities and fees, and change daily. Contact the leasing office for current pricing and specials.
| Amenity | Details |
|---|---|
| Pool and spa | Resort-style pool with cabanas, spa, and grills |
| Fitness | Fitness center |
| Social spaces | Clubhouse, roof terrace, social courtyard with fire pits, outdoor kitchen |
| Work | Co-working lounge, business center, conference rooms |
| Entertainment | Media room and screening room |
| Pets | Pet friendly, with a dog park |
| In-home features | In-unit washer and dryer, stainless steel appliances, quartz or granite counters, walk-in closets |
| Other | Controlled access, package service, EV charging |
Griffin Senior Living: A Senior Community Next to Grace Church
Griffin Living, a Calabasas-based senior housing developer led by Paul Griffin III, partnered with Grace Church of Laguna Niguel on a plan that splits the church's 5.34-acre property near the corner of Crown Valley Parkway and La Plata Drive. The church keeps about 1.65 acres and gets a remodel and expansion. The remaining 3.69 acres would become a two-story senior living community over a basement parking garage, which Griffin Living would build, own, and operate. The project needed a Managed Care Overlay zone to allow senior housing on the church's public/institutional land.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | Griffin Senior Living Community (Laguna Niguel Senior Living Center) |
| Address | 24600 La Plata Drive, near Crown Valley Parkway, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 |
| Site | 3.69 acres of Grace Church's 5.34-acre property |
| Homes | 108 senior living units (the city's Housing Element credits 77 toward its state housing goal) |
| Building | Two stories with a roughly 24,000 sq ft basement parking garage |
| Developer and operator | Griffin Living |
| Church improvements | Larger kitchen, classrooms, and restrooms, plus a partial second story with youth room and offices |
| Planning Commission | Recommended approval April 25, 2023 |
| City Council | Approved May 16, 2023 |
| Status | Approved; no construction start or opening date announced |
The approval documents describe a "senior living community" without naming the level of care. Griffin Living's Temecula community, for example, was approved as assisted living and memory care, so families should ask about care levels when the Laguna Niguel community begins pre-leasing. We will update this post when Griffin Living announces construction or pre-leasing.
What These Projects Mean for You
| If You Are... | What to Know |
|---|---|
| Renting in South OC | Hanover adds 309 new apartments with modern amenities and transit access. New communities often offer move-in specials during lease-up, so compare pricing. |
| Thinking about buying instead | A new two-bedroom at Hanover advertises about $3,400 to $4,200 a month. Depending on your down payment and rate, owning a Laguna Niguel condo can cost a similar amount per month while building equity. Ask us for a rent-vs-buy comparison. |
| Planning for an aging parent | Griffin Senior Living would add a new senior option in central Laguna Niguel. If a move means selling the family home, we can help time the sale and handle the details. |
| A nearby homeowner | New apartments add renters who shop and dine locally. Griffin is a low-rise, two-story building with its parking underground. |
Other New Developments in Laguna Niguel
| Project | Homes | Buy or Rent | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paseo de Colinas | 24 townhomes near Niguel Hills Middle School | Buy | Approved February 2025; builder not announced |
| The Cove at El Niguel | 22 townhomes on Crown Valley Pkwy | Buy | Approved 2022; early site work |
| Laguna Niguel City Center | 275 apartments plus retail and library | Rent | Groundbreaking targeted 2026 |
Renting Now, Buying Later? Let's Talk
Many Laguna Niguel renters are closer to owning than they think. We can run a rent-vs-buy comparison, set up alerts for Laguna Niguel condos and townhomes in your price range, and add you to our lists for the new for-sale townhomes at Paseo de Colinas and The Cove. Families planning a move to senior living can contact us for help selling a Laguna Niguel home.
Call or text Eric at 949-430-7500 | Join the Laguna Niguel new developments list
Homes for sale in Laguna Niguel | Paseo de Colinas townhomes | The Cove at El Niguel | Laguna Niguel City Center | View all OC new developments
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