Housing-Retail Project Near Subway Station Envisioned

City officials are working on a proposal that would allow developers to build stores, restaurants and up to 1,000 housing units, many of them artists’ lofts, on 11 acres near the Metro Rail subway station in North Hollywood.

The Community Redevelopment Agency tentatively plans to seek competitive proposals on the project early this year, but more than a dozen developers have already expressed interest, city officials said.

“The plan for creation of an urban village in part of North Hollywood is good news,” said City Council President John Ferraro, who represents the area.

Much of the property--west of Lankershim Boulevard, south of Cumpston Street and east of Tujunga Avenue--was purchased by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for the subway project. But the MTA did not need all the land for the station.

MTA officials say they are interested in a private project that would complement the station, according to Walter Beaumont, assistant project manager for the CRA’s North Hollywood project area.

The site is across the street from 42 acres where four 20-story office towers as well as film sound stages and other facilities have been proposed, Beaumont said.

The proposals reflect developer interest in a rundown area that may be the site of the last subway station built in Los Angeles, he added. It is scheduled to open in May 2000.

Development firms talking to CRA officials include the Olson Co. of Seal Beach, Creative Housing Associates of West Los Angeles and Post Properties Inc. of Atlanta, which specializes in self-contained, mixed-use residential developments, Beaumont said.

Todd Olson of the Olson Co. said his firm will probably submit a proposal for a housing development if the city seeks bids for the 11-acre parcel.

“Transit-oriented development is the trendy thing these days,” he said.

Housing developments near subway stations often are allowed to have fewer parking spaces, because residents of the developments are close to shopping and mass transit, he said. The site is also across from North Hollywood Park and the North Hollywood Library.

“We’re hopeful that this would turn out to be something that can work out for everyone, but we’re still in the stage of determining that,” said Janie Maddox, a spokeswoman for Post Properties.

Beaumont said Post representatives have talked of building 1,000 to 2,000 housing units, many of them condominiums and many with large loft spaces for artists.

However, CRA officials said the 11 acres would more comfortably accommodate 500 to 800 large condominiums, or as many as 1,000 smaller residences. Up to 200 of those condominiums might be built with large lofts, Beaumont said.

Not everyone is confident that the massive housing project is feasible or desirable.

Glenn Hoiby, an attorney and member of the CRA’s Redevelopment Project Area Committee, said artists normally are attracted to lofts in older commercial buildings that offer low rents.

“I don’t think new construction will stimulate that kind of interest from artists,” Hoiby said.

The North Hollywood attorney also is concerned about the effect of 1,000 to 2,000 more housing units in an area already facing traffic congestion and other problems associated with high-density development.

“You’ve got gridlock on most of the east-west streets much of the day now,” Hoiby said.

City officials say the housing will be close to the subway station, which would encourage residents to use mass transit.

Still, Hoiby is skeptical.

“People in Southern California are not going to give up their cars,” he said.