Metro board approves 11.8-acre mixed-use housing projection in NoHo

A proposed 11.8-acre mixed-use development project on Metro’s North Hollywood Station will move forward, officials announced Thursday.

The development is expected to bring more than 1,500 new housing units and bolster access to transit in the area. The Metro’s Board of Directors instructed staff during its September meeting to enter a joint development agreement with developer NOHO Development Associates, which is an affiliate of Trammell Crow Company and High Street Residential. The entities will build the project, which is called “District NoHo.”

"We have to get creative if we're going to build the housing we need in L.A. County, and District NoHo is an ambitious model of how we can maximize the space around our stations," L.A. County Supervisor and Metro Board Chair Janice Hahn said in a statement.

It’s anticipated that 311 of the approximately 1,500 units will be reserved for families and individuals who are earning less than 60% of the median income for Los Angeles County. Approximately 570 mixed-income apartments are expected to be built in the first phase of the project, with 5% reserved for moderate-income households that are earning between 80% to 120% of median income. 

The project is expected to also allow 105,125 square feet of retail and restaurant space and 580,374 square feet of office space.

"This is not only going to provide hundreds of new affordable homes for people, it's also going to give them direct access to our Metro rail system with a station right downstairs," Hahn said. "It may be the biggest effort like this so far along Metro, but it will not be the last."

Metro’s Board of Directors also approved its "findings of fact” documents, which explains the land-use decision for the parcel of land. Metros described it as a “key step” to comply with state environmental laws.

Metro has previously announced its commitment to build 10,000 housing units in L.A. County by 2031. Its joint development program has resulted in 2,362 housing units to date, according to the agency. 

"Metro has a strong interest in ensuring the people who ride public transportation can afford to live near it," Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins said in a statement. "By directly linking Metro's network to housing, employment, retail and commercial opportunities. Metro expects to continue to grow transit ridership."

Metro is expected to make improvements to its NoHo Station before construction on the new project begins. Those improvements include a new entrance to the B (Red) Line subway on the west side of Lankershim Boulevard and improvements to its G (Orange) Line busway terminus. They will also add new internal streets and walkways. 

"District NoHo is uniquely situated, directly atop the North Hollywood Metro station, the major junction of the B Line subway, G Line Bus Rapid Transit and over 15 municipal bus lines," Los Angeles City Councilman and Metro Director Paul Krekorian said in a statement.

He also said the project will transform the site into a community gathering space and provide housing and retail space near transit. Krekorian's office previously estimated the project would generate about $1.1 billion annually in new revenues for the city.