Promenade 2035 Gears Up to Rock Downtown District with a Sports Arena, Two Hotels and More
Our country has been through a lot over the past few years, to say nothing of this last year what with the coronavirus and all the hardships that brought with it, yet beyond all the political and socioeconomic strife, waves of intersectional protests and good old-fashioned feelings of everyone simply coming apart at the seams, many cities are bouncing back in unsuspecting ways – and Los Angeles is one of them.
We don’t want to be misunderstood; the Golden State indeed does have its fair share of challenges cut out for it, and there really is no way of sugar-coating it. From gubernatorial scandals and ever-increasing traffic concerns to rising living expenses and property taxes, California has some soul-searching to do, for sure. But out of these ominous clouds has come several bright rays of light, one of which has come in the form of a one-billion-dollar “mini-city” known as Promenade 2035 in downtown Woodland Hills.
This so-called “mini-city” is set to be completed within its two-year timeframe and will feature a new sports arena, two hotels, a 28-story office tower, a supermarket, public plazas and more than 1,400 new apartments, the Los Angeles City Council-approved development replacing a closed shopping mall in Warner Center. Project developer Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield agreed to set aside five-percent of housing units for households earning less than 50-percent of the area median income, which is approximately $77,300 per year – just one step toward addressing the aforementioned living expenses and property taxes issues – while another five-percent of housing is dedicated to families earning 120 to 150-percent of the area median income.
“This ‘mini-city’ represents the future of green planning…a place where residents can indulge in culture and entertainment while finding employment and work – all in an area exuding a reduced carbon footprint,” explains councilmember Bob Blumenfield, representing the western San Fernando Valley district.
In what is sure to become a landmark destination in the Valley, Promenade 2035 is poised to change the community in a variety of different ways; whether it’s the game-altering District NoHo that is being designed to support local businesses or the housing and commercial businesses being planned for ICON in Panorama City, big things are on the horizon for Woodland Hills.
Let’s take a closer look at these other major developments near Woodland Hills, as they are going to play a key role in bringing the Valley together like never before.
District NoHo
Trammell Crow Company and High Street Residential have partnered with Metro on this joint development project planned for the North Hollywood Red Line Station, the goal being to transform the underutilized 15-acre site into an Arts District-inspired urban village. Through the introduction of District NoHo, local businesses will be supported while surrounding areas will benefit from new patrons; what’s more, District NoHo will feature a public square to host cultural programs, all of which, in turn, will complement the myriad of neighborhood improvements sure to endure, including better transit access, more choices for parking and mobility options, improved traffic circulation and an enhanced pedestrian experience.
NoHo West
Work has also officially begun on a giant mixed-use project set to transform North Hollywood’s Laurel Plaza shopping center into a “miniature neighborhood” brimming over with restaurant and retail venues. Dubbed NoHo West, this development will bring 642 apartments, between 50 and 60 dining and shopping options, a grocery store, gym and theater to the area, the entire project having been developed by Merlone Geier Partners and GPI Companies.
Being called “somewhat Grove-like,” the NoHo West endeavor will consist of several buildings centered around a main thoroughfare with numerous pedestrian plazas scattered throughout the site. The former Macy’s at the heart of the 25-acre property, meanwhile, is set to be converted into large-format office space, with developers saying they are looking to attract four to 10 tenants to the office portion of the project.
NoHo West is being designed by Stir Architecture, with representatives of the firm stating the development will include more than two acres of open space, including a communal area for public events and, potentially, a dog park and playgrounds.
Big Revamp of Soon-to-Be Former Ikea Burbank Site
There is also a proposed project in the pipeline that will remake the home of Ikea Burbank and the entire Burbank Town Center, a view from the Magnolia Boulevard side of the retail and residential complex revealing where developers want to add new outdoor dining options. The mall at the site is slated to be renovated inside and out and will be joined by an open-air plaza, 40,000 square-feet of new space for retail and open space for events such as farmers markets.
Another major addition to the Burbank Town Center is the planned construction of 765 multi-family units where the Ikea now stands – a structure scheduled to be razed – and 70 for-sale units at 800 North San Fernando Boulevard.
Panorama City’s ICON Retail, Housing Project
Finally, the site of Panorama City’s old Montgomery Ward is poised for a big transformation into a massive new mixed-used development, with plans calling for a razing of three vacant commercial buildings and their parking lots on the 8.9-acre property, as well as the creation of a new seven-building complex on the site along Roscoe Boulevard.
Dubbed the ICON project, the 584,000 square-foot development will be able to house 422 apartments and 200,000 square-feet of commercial space. Updated renderings from the Hochhauser Blatter architectural firm show that the development should be low-slung, with commercial uses spread out across five one and two-story buildings and the residential uses in dual seven-story structures.
What’s more, of the 422 units, 176 will be one-bedrooms and 172 will be two-bedrooms, though officials have said studios and three-bedrooms will be offered at some point.
Meanwhile, the complex’s 1,690 residential parking spaces and 858 bike parking spaces will occupy the two lower floors of the residential buildings, with a six-level parking structure toward the center of the site poised to serve people working and using the retail portion of the property.
A Bright Woodland Hills Future
The major projects showcased in this article aren’t the only big developments headed to places like Panorama City – developer Izek Shomoff is planning to revamp a one-time office tower to turn it into housing, retail and outdoor mall space, and the Valley in general has around a dozen large projects in the works.
Stay with Woodland Hills Magazine for news about any future major developments near Woodland Hills!
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