Linc Housing could redevelop County-owned site at 725 N. Spring Street

Los Angeles County is set to partner with Linc Housing Corp. to redevelop a surface parking lot in Chinatown, according to an item scheduled for consideration at the September 24 meeting of the Board of Supervisors.

In January, the Board voted to authorize the Department of Economic Opportunity to issue a request for proposals seeking development options for Parking lot 45, an approximately 73,400-square-foot property located at 725 N. Spring Street. The existing parking provided by the site could be replaced by reopening an adjoining garage, which was shuttered due to underutilization in 2020.

After setting an expectation that respondents propose at least 300 housing units restricted to rent by lower-income households, Los Angeles County is poised to get exactly that. According to a staff report, Linc Housing has proposed a nearly 360,000-square-foot project which would include 300 apartments reserved for households earning at or below 30 and 45 percent of the area median income level.

725 N. Spring StreetGoogle Maps

Plans call for:

144 units of family housing;
156 units of senior housing;
10,611 square feet of ground-floor retail space;
9,144 square feet of community/retail facilities;
57,554 square feet of open space; and
a 120-car garage.

Staff have recommended an approximately two-year exclusive negotiation agreement term with Linc Housing, with options for two 180-day extensions as needed. During that time period, Linc would be responsible for shepherding the project through the community outreach and predevelopment processes.

Linc Housing, which has developed more than 10,000 homes across the state, already has one iron in the fire in Chinatown. A short walk to the east, the developer is partnering with the California Endowment on a project which would bring 124 affordable homes to a site at 800 N. Main Street.

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