LAUSD board moves forward with plans for housing at sites in West Hollywood and Woodland Hills

The LAUSD Board of Education has advanced plans to redevelop two district properties with affordable and workforce housing.

At its October 6 meeting, the Board voted to enter into exclusive negotiating agreements with developers for two sites: the 6.5-acre former Collins Elementary School campus at 5717 N. Rudnick Avenue in Woodland Hills and the 1.5-acre West Hollywood Opportunity Center property at 1049 N. Fairfax Avenue. They were included in a request for proposals issued by the district which also involved two smaller sites in South Los Angeles which did not receive proposals.

The selected bid for the Collins Elementary School property came from Affirmed Housing, which is planning a project including 391 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments with 550 parking spaces. The apartments would be reserved for renters earning between 30 and 120 percent of the area median income level.

Under the proposed agreement, Affirmed Housing would pay $150,000 in ground lease deposits during predevelopment and construction, then $250,000 per year afterward, with lease cost escalating by 2.5 percent per year. However, those terms, as well as project details, could change during the negotiating period.

Affirmed Housing anticipates breaking ground in Summer 2029 and completing construction in Summer 2031.

The Board approved the selection of West Hollywood Community Housing Corp. to redevelop the Fairfax Avenue site. Plans call for the construction of 207 studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments - also reserved for renters earning between 30 and 120 percent of the area median income level - with parking for 250 vehicles and ground-floor commercial space.

The proposed agreement, which remains subject to change, would involve a $10-million payment to LAUSD following construction, and then annual rent starting at $20,000 escalating at 3.5 percent per year. LAUSD would also receive a share of commercial income from the property.

The project is expected to commence work in Summer 2028 and open by Summer 2030.

Moving forward, both project teams are expected to continue negotiating final development agreements with LAUSD, while also engaging in the entitlement process and search for financing.

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