WLA Civic Center Redevelopment

At a virtual public meeting, developers presented proposals to the LA Planning commission, to redesign the 1950's era West LA Civic Center.

You have probably visited the civic center on the south side of Santa Monica Boulevard between Corinth and Butler. It's that place with a library, closed courthouses, and the LAPD's Westside HQ.

The 8 acre site now includes a police station, a public library, a senior center, and a decommissioned courthouse, in addition to a public square and satellite offices for both the City and County of Los Angeles.

Developers have made other proposals to rebuild the aging Civic Center over the years. The most recent effort stems from 2018 legislation which gives the County permission to purchase the vacant courthouse from the State. Control of the courthouse places the entire property under the control of the City and County, allowing the two entities to issue a joint request for proposals (RFP) in May 2020.

The RFP, which received four responses, requires that all existing facilities and open space within the campus be either maintained or replaced, while also leaving room for the addition of at least 300 homes - of which 30 percent must be deed-restricted affordable housing - to the property. From that initial group, the two highest scoring teams were selected to present their proposals.