“We’d love to see retail on there as well as restaurants, snack shops and related types of businesses like surf shops or apparel clothing stores,” said another official who asked not to be named. “Part of the property will include, as you walk along the boardwalk, commercial space that will be adjacent to the boardwalk, leading into a promenade with commercial stores.”

Don Middleberg, a spokesman for iStar, said that a fact sheet with details of the project was being prepared as the Herald went to press on Wednesday, but was not yet available. iStar recently created a website to promote the project, www.istarlongbeach.com, which includes what appears to be a rendering of the proposed development.

“Keep your eyes on the empty block overlooking the boardwalk between Long Beach and Riverside Boulevards,” the company said in a statement on the website. “An iconic new address is about to take shape there — bringing a whole new kind of energy and excitement to Long Beach. We will share our progress with you at every step. And we would like to hear from you as well. At iStar we not only welcome community involvement, we depend on it.”