The vision of transforming the vacant yet iconic L.A. County General Hospital building in Boyle Heights into housing and healthcare facilities for working-class and homeless residents took a giant step toward reality Tuesday, with the county’s selection of a developer.
Centennial Partners, consisting of Primestor and Bayspring Development, was chosen by the Board of Supervisors to build between 800 and 1,000 housing units, new retail space, a hotel, medical offices and laboratories in the architecturally significant building — and on its surrounding 25 acres.
“This is a historic moment for our community,” said First District L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis, who has worked on the project since 2017. “The need for affordable housing in Los Angeles County, especially the Eastside, is greater than ever. I am proud to take this next step to repurpose a historic county landmark to meet our greatest need.”
A year ago, the county hosted 55 developers at the site in hopes of attracting a private partner. Tuesday, Dec. 19 marked the first time a development team was chosen for the project. The developer has completed more than 50 urban impact projects, according to the county’s Department of Economic Opportunity (DOE).
In a letter from DOE Director Kelly Lobianco to the board, the developer proposed the following uses in the 1.68 million square foot General Hospital project: About 885 residential units, at least 30% of them affordable; 166,000 square feet of hotel uses; 168,000 square feet of retail; 65,000 square feet of laboratory and medical offices; 85,000 square feet of community and general services; and 531,000 square feet of parking.
Many who spoke before the board said they’d like to see a higher percentage of affordable units and less market-rate housing.
“As an organizer of tenants, I also see the need for affordable housing and we don’t want just 30% we want 80% because our community needs it,” said Eva Garcia, an organizer with the…
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