Garden Grove Invites Community to Review Draft of Little Saigon Design Guidelines on June 20

The cities of Garden Grove, Fountain Valley, and Santa Ana invite community members, business owners, and stakeholders to attend the second Little Saigon Community Design Workshop on Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Fountain Valley Recreation Center, 16400 Brookhurst St. in Fountain Valley.

"At our first workshop, residents shared thoughtful ideas about how Little Saigon should look, feel and continue to grow," said Garden Grove Mayor Stephanie Klopfenstein. "Those voices helped shape the draft design guidelines. I encourage everyone to review the draft, share feedback and help honor Little Saigon's identity for generations to come."

The second workshop marks a pivotal milestone in the collaborative effort between the three Orange County cities and internationally recognized architectural firm Gensler. At the first workshop held April 25, 2026, residents, business owners, and community stakeholders shared their ideas and priorities for the future of Little Saigon. Gensler has since translated that feedback into draft architectural and urban design guidelines, which will be presented to the community for review and comment at the June 20 community workshop.

"This second workshop is a testament to what can be accomplished when cities and communities work together," said Fountain Valley Mayor Jim Cunneen. "We are proud to present draft guidelines that reflect the voices of our residents and business owners, and we look forward to continuing that conversation on June 20."

Little Saigon remains the largest and most influential Vietnamese-American community in the United States, according to a 2024 demographic and economic profile prepared by Cal State Fullerton's Woods Center for Economic Analysis and Forecasting. The design guidelines effort is intended to help preserve Little Saigon's cultural identity while exploring beautification and placemaking opportunities that support businesses, residents, and visitors.
The initiative is being advanced through the California Jobs First grant funding awarded to the cities of Garden Grove, Fountain Valley, and Santa Ana. In January 2026, the Garden Grove City Council approved a contract with Gensler to prepare the guidelines. The project is expected to conclude in September 2026, with the final guidelines presented to each city for adoption.

"The City of Santa Ana is excited to take this next step in our shared vision for Little Saigon," said Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua. "These draft guidelines represent the community's own vision - rooted in our history, culture, and identity. We invite everyone to join us on June 20 to help us refine and finalize these guidelines."

Community members are encouraged to RSVP at bit.ly/lscdw2. Translation services will be available at the workshop. Questions may be directed to Garden Grove Project Manager Grace Kim at [email protected].