Long Beach

The Redevelopment Agency has agreed to move ahead with the purchase of half of an Ocean Boulevard block just east of City Hall although it does not yet have a developer for the site.

Directors of the agency, which usually has a commitment from a developer before it buys and clears parcels, on Monday approved the eminent domain acquisition of the northern half of a block bounded by Ocean, Pacific Avenue, First Street and Pine Avenue.

The agency bought one-fourth of the block for $1.8 million last year. The remaining quarter is occupied in part by the Landmark Building and owned by a Los Angeles company that is negotiating with the city to build an office project on the full block.

The agency moved ahead with the purchase partly in response to a lawsuit filed on behalf of two owners eager to sell on the northern half of the block, said project manager David Biggs. The purchase “will stop the clock on any potential damages” suffered by the owners due to pending redevelopment, he said.