Last December, the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the development of 15.6 acres of land surrounding the North Hollywood Red and Orange Line Station. After gauging interest from a number of groups, Metro has narrowed the field down to two teams lead by Greenland USA and the Trammell Crow Company.
Greenland USA, the American arm of the Shanghai-based Greenland Group, first emerged onto the scene in 2013 with its revival of the $1-billion Metropolis development in Downtown Los Angeles. In the years since, the company has expanded its portfolio to include the $6-billion Pacific Park development in Brooklyn, and has actively explored opportunities for large developments in other gateway markets. They are joined by the global architecture firm Gensler, which designed a portion of the Metropolis project, and West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation, a nonprofit developer of affordable housing.
Trammell Crow, an independent subsidiary of the real estate brokerage CBRE, has developed an extensive national portfolio over a nearly seven-decade span. The company's Southern California projects include numerous industrial centers and a $400-million trophy office building in Century City. They have teamed with the Cesar Chavez Foundation, a California-based nonprofit organization which provides a broad range of services, including the development of affordable housing.
Although the exact plans from each team will not be revealed until later this year, Metro's RFP states that the finalists are expected to create plans which "harness the unique, eclectic character of the North Hollywood Arts District," which is known for its numerous theaters and galleries. Appropriately, the winning team will be mandated to contribute 1% of its budget to arts project due to CRA/LA requirements.
The property's scale and zoning would allow for a large range of uses within a unified development, including retail, hotel, entertainment, office and housing. Additionally, the agency's joint development policy mandates that 35% of all residential units built within the project will be made affordable to households earning 60% or less than the area median income.
The two finalists will be expected to preserve future transit operations at North Hollywood Station, including a potential conversion of the Orange Line busway to light rail. Metro is encouraging both teams to incorporate new station entrances into their proposals, making use of unused knock out panels located beneath Chandler Boulevard.
