West Hollywood TAP Report

Report Summary: The city of West Hollywood is faced with a bounty of city-owned, but underutilized parcels, facing the challenge of balancing numerous development goals. Founded on ideals of inclusivity and affordability, the city is determined to address its housing affordability crisis and pandemic-induced economic uncertainty. West Hollywood distinguishes itself through a range of affordable housing initiatives, but the rapid rise in housing costs necessitates swift action, including the development of city-owned land. To navigate these complexities, West Hollywood engaged the Urban Land Institute's Los Angeles chapter to conduct a Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) evaluating three underutilized city-owned sites along Santa Monica Boulevard. The TAP's recommendations aim to achieve financial sustainability, maximize public benefits, and adhere to the Surplus Land Act, emphasizing the development of affordable housing. The report aligns with West Hollywood's values, offering a vision that expands beyond the studied sites, creating a revenue stream for affordable housing preservation and fostering a vibrant public realm. By unifying these unique development sites and focusing on community-oriented development, West Hollywood can reinforce its identity as an inclusive and diverse city. Key objectives include providing various housing types to meet demand, enhancing city services, streamlining service provision, supporting a live theatre district, exploring retail opportunities, emphasizing urban design, promoting public spaces, bolstering entertainment and hospitality infrastructure, securing long-term revenue, evaluating parking needs, and considering green building practices. West Hollywood aims to retain ownership of these parcels through various development options, such as ground leases, public-private partnerships, or affordability covenants. The TAP offers a comprehensive framework for site analysis and urban design guidance. Housing affordability remains central to West Hollywood's identity, and addressing this challenge is imperative. By treating the three sites as a cohesive development project, the TAP envisions benefits extending beyond affordable housing, including the creation of a fund for preserving naturally occurring affordable housing. The report emphasizes a public-oriented approach to maximize social benefits, spurring improvements to the public realm along Santa Monica Boulevard. Developing these parcels as a unified project promises a quicker contribution to the city's recovery from the housing affordability crisis and the economic impacts of COVID-19.