For decades, Van Nuys Boulevard has been defined by its seemingly endless succession of car dealerships. Now, in what may be a sign of things to come, one local automobile empire has put one of its properties up for development.
According to a document form the Van Nuys Neighborhood Council's Planning and Land Use Committee, a residential-retail complex is planned for a 4.5-acre property adjacent to the Orange Line Busway. The rectancular site - located at 5949 Van Nuys Boulevard - would birth a project consisting of 324 residential units, 17,000 square feet of commercial floor area and slightly over one acre of open space. The proposed mixed-use complex would feature parking accommodations in excess of that required by the Los Angeles Municipal Code.
The property - bordered by Vesper Avenue and Oxnard Street - is currently developed with a former showroom for Keyes Chevrolet, one component of the massive Keyes Automotive Group. Plans call for all existing structures associated with the car dealership - which has since relocated across the street - to be demolished prior to construction of the new development.
An exact timeline for the project at 5949 Van Nuys Boulevard is currrently unclear. Construction will likely necessitate discretionary approvals from the City of Los Angeles, including a general plan amendment. However, the proposed development not been submitted to the city at this point in time.
The project will eventually be located at the confluence of two major transit lines. In addition to the existing Orange Line busway, Metro plans to construct a new high-capacity transit line which would primarily traverse Van Nuys Boulevard. Although the exact transportation mode has not been determined, various forms of light rail and bus rapid transit are under consideration.
