Red Cross Unit Moving: Don’t call it...

Red Cross Unit Moving: Don’t call it an exodus--yet.

The American Red Cross says it will move the regional headquarters for one of its divisions from Los Angeles to Orange County. In a 10-year lease valued at $1.2 million, the nonprofit organization has signed up for 16,596 square feet of research and development space at 3535 Highland Ave. in Costa Mesa.

The Red Cross expects to bring almost 50 employees who work in its blood and tissue division to Orange County by the middle of October. The division, now based at 1130 S. Vermont Ave. in Los Angeles, also expects to hire half a dozen people here.

Does that mean the entire American Red Cross may move all operations to Orange County?

“No, we’re a division that’s expanding. We needed a building close to the airport and closer to the biotech industry,” said Cheryl McMahon, regional director of the division, which will process all cardiovascular tissue for Red Cross facilities across the nation.

Brokers from Grubb & Ellis’ Newport Beach office represented the landlord, Dolphin Properties of Irvine, in the transaction.