Capital Projects - General Hospital

CEO Capital Projects

County Spending Category

3.4 Capital Projects

Federal Expenditure Category

Long-term Housing Security: Affordable Housing

Project Launch Date

12/31/2027

Anticipated End Date

12/31/2027

Interpretation Languages
  • Spanish
Written Languages
  • Spanish

Project Contacts

  • This project does not currently have any contacts

Indicators & Metrics to Date

  • Issue RFP for mixed-use development with affordable housing through public-private partnership.
    0
  • DEO will receive developer proposals in response to RFP and select a developer
    0
  • Receive Board approval of selected developer (Centennial Partners)
    0
  • Receive Board approval to extend ENA period to 36 months and initiate studies with independent utility to the County, which will help define project
    0
  • Execute ENA with developer, facilitating project definition and planning phases, including outreach to community stakeholders
    0
  • Receive Board approval to initiate the Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) process with the developer, which includes negotiating terms of agreement for mixed use development and facilitating robust community engagement during project definition phase
    0
  • entitlement and predevelopment Scope legal document draft completed
    1
  • Final Environmental Impact Report Published
    0
  • entitlement and predevelopment Scope activities will be finalized and defined
    0
  • Monthly Community Stakeholder Meetings to inform Stabilization project and provide transparency
    174

Populations Served

  • Small Businesses
  • People Experiencing Homelessness
  • People with Disabilities
  • Systems Impacted Individuals
  • Systems Involved Individuals
  • Individuals Experiencing Mental Health Disorders
  • The target populations to be served by the proposed project for mixed-use development with affordable housing are the traditionally underserved communities surrounding the LA General Medical Center campus. The area where the proposed project is located is identified as “Highest Need” by the COVID-19 Vulnerability & Recovery Index. Residents in this area are disadvantaged regarding access to affordable housing, as well as other economic and public health indicators (e.g. below-average household incomes, above-average unemployment, above-average rates of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes). As noted by the COVID-19 Vulnerability & Recovery Index, this historic underinvestment makes residents of the surrounding communities particularly susceptible to the negative health impacts of the pandemic by increasing their risk of physical and mental illness and decreasing economic stability by limited access to safe and affordable housing.
  • Disproportionately Impacted Low-Income Households and Populations

Project Description

In response to the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts are being made in LA County Supervisorial District 1 to provide individuals with affordable housing options, particularly those who are struggling to make ends meet and are living below the federal poverty level. There has been a shortage of affordable housing in LA County for some time, and this problem has increased significantly since the pandemic due to the effects of people experiencing health issues such as long COVID, and economic issues such as loss of employment. Improvements to the project site (historic General Hospital and portions of West Campus, adjacent to the new LA General Hospital), would be very advantageous to the target population. The end result for the stabilization project may create the pre-conditions in general hospital and portions of west campus to increase the supply of affordable housing and provide wraparound services. Approval of such a project would be subject to Board consideration and completion of necessary documentation and findings related to the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. The Board may modify, propose alternatives to or require mitigation or may decide not to move forward with a project. On January 25, 2023 the County of Los Angeles (County) Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) posted a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a proposed mixed-use development including affordable housing with wraparound services in the historic General Hospital building, and new construction on portions of West Campus on the County’s LAC+USC Medical Center campus (renamed as the Los Angeles General Medical Center on May 3, 2023). The County’s proposed vision for the Project Site is a collaborative Public Private Partnership mixed-use project which includes affordable and market rate housing, commercial spaces, office and economic opportunity spaces, community-oriented space, open space, adequate parking, and other infrastructure. This vision is centered on the “Healthy Vision” concept, which aims to support the most vulnerable populations and address critical community needs such as a mission-aligned reuse of the historic General Hospital building; low-income and high-need population affordable housing, and wrap-around community services informed by the Whole Person Care concept and built on a foundation of robust community engagement. Key milestones in the journey to revitalize this historic County asset and address the needs of the most vulnerable members of the community include: a. November 2018: Supervisor Hilda L. Solis authored a Board Motion directing the County’s Chief Executive Office (CEO) to prepare a feasibility study for the adaptive reuse of the County’s 1.2 million square foot General Hospital; West Campus was added later. b. April 2022: the CEO submitted the General Hospital and West Campus Feasibility Study to the Board of Supervisors (the Board); the Study envisions the combined renovation of historic General Hospital and redevelopment of portions of West Campus, centered on a “Reuse Framework” reflecting community priorities and uses, County requirements, and technical considerations. c. December 2022: $129 million in funding has been identified ($24 million in Capital Project No. 87883, $55 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds, and $50 million in State Housing and Community Development funds) d. January 2023: the DEO posted a Request for Proposals for a mixed-use development with affordable housing through a public-private partnership e. June 2023: developer proposals were submitted f. October 2023: the Board approved the selected developer (Centennial Partners) g. December 2023: the Board approved initiating the Exclusive Negotiation Agreement (ENA) process with Centennial Partners h. June 2024: the Board authorized extending the ENA negotiation period to 36 months i. July 2024: the County executed the ENA with Centennial Partners; during this process the County will negotiate and finalize all elements of the proposed project design, including outreach to community stakeholders j. June 2025: advance a standalone stabilization project of the campus for Board consideration k. By the Summer 2026: Proposed stabilization project approval would be submitted for Board of Supervisors approval, including necessary CEQA approvals; the Board would have considered approval of recommended developer and lease agreements; if necessary approvals are provided by the Board, portions of the property would be under control of the Developer; and construction would be underway l. December 2027: If approved, the stabilization project would be complete.

Goals & Objectives

Goal Description By December 2027 (target service delivery date), seismic improvements will be done on the General Hospital building along with hazardous material cleanout and removal of antiquated utility infrastructure within the building. On portions of West Campus, there may be potential demolition of existing underutilized and unsafe structures, and remediation of hazardous materials. The proposed project would support the stabilization of the campus, creating improved safety and health conditions on campus, in order to protect the County's asset and regardless of future plans for the campus. Efforts to plan and design potential future development would advance, including the potential creation of affordable housing and community-serving amenities, which would be focused on serving the traditionally underserved communities surrounding the LA General Medical Center campus, including those disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

Objective Description By May 2025, the scope of the stabilization project will be defined.

Activity Description By September 2025, legal documents for the entitlement and predevelopment scope will be drafted.

Indicators

# Type Name Baseline Target
4 Performance entitlement and predevelopment Scope legal document draft completed 1.00

Activity Description By September 2025, update previous Environmental Impact Report with an addendum.

Indicators

# Type Name Baseline Target
6 Performance Final Environmental Impact Report Published 0.00 1.00

Activity Description Between January 2023 - June 2024, there was solicitations for RFPS for a mixed-used developers. DEO selected mixed-used developed through standard county practices and procedures in October 2023. This was then certified by the Board in June 2024.

Indicators

# Type Name Baseline Target
2 Performance Receive Board approval to initiate the Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) process with the developer, which includes negotiating terms of agreement for mixed use development and facilitating robust community engagement during project definition phase 1.00
14 Performance Issue RFP for mixed-use development with affordable housing through public-private partnership. 1.00
15 Performance DEO will receive developer proposals in response to RFP and select a developer 1.00
16 Performance Receive Board approval of selected developer (Centennial Partners) 1.00
18 Performance Receive Board approval to extend ENA period to 36 months and initiate additional technical studies, which will help define the project 1.00

Activity Description Starting June 2024, an ENA with developer will be executed to facilitate project definition and planning phases, including outreach to community stakeholders to inform, listen, and provide transparency and ensure community participation in the stabilization process.

Indicators

# Type Name Baseline Target
10 Performance Monthly Community Stakeholder Meetings to inform Stabilization project and provide transparency 36.00
19 Performance Execute ENA with developer, facilitating project definition and planning phases, including outreach to community stakeholders 1.00

Activity Description By July 2025, design and pre-construction activities of the project will commence. The project will end December 2027.

Outcome Description By December 2027, (target service delivery date), the stabilization project will be completed. The stabilization project will be the foundation for construction of affordable housing for those disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. In the future, this construction will support affordable housing that serves the needs of current community residents near LA General Medical Center Campus, emphasizing those highly impacted by COVID-19 and economically challenged due to the pandemic.