spring naud project a catalyst for river development
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Creative Environments of Hollywood (CEH), the Lincoln Heights-based housing developer and property management firm behind the Lacy Street Lofts and La Fonda Theatre, has set its sights on the fringe area of Downtown’s Northern Industrial District for its next high-profile venture.
A swath of riverfront property currently dominated by low-rise warehouses and industrial storage lots near Naud Junction will become home to a large-scale revitalization project known as Spring Naud, a development we mentioned preliminarily last month.
Dreau Robbins, Acquisitions & Development Manager for CEH, met with us last week to tour the site and discuss the project in detail.
Spring Naud will be comprised of seven multi-level mixed-use structures totaling 245 live/work rental units and commercial space spread over 412,387 square feet (nearly 9.5 acres) of underutilized parcels abutting the LA River. The complex will be concentrated around the northern most tip of Naud Street, which will be vacated to establish pedestrian cohesiveness for the new community.
“Approximately 95% of the project will be ground-up construction,” explains Robbins, pointing to several vacant lots.
Only one of the existing warehouse structures (at the southwest corner of the site) will be preserved in adaptive reuse fashion. An adjacent walkway is to be repurposed as a “Market Row” lined with shops and a cafe with outdoor seating.
Rents will start at a modest $1.75 per square foot, hoping to appeal to urban creative types.
When asked whether Spring Naud could be compared to other artist communities in the central Los Angeles area such as the Brewery and Santa Fe Arts Colonies, Robbins explained the differences. “Those communities have been around for over a decade. Spring Naud will be much more contemporary.”
Indeed, design concepts from the company’s in-house architect Paul Rodriguez call for industrial-inspired construction dominated by glass and steel, creating an impressive gateway into northern Downtown from the Spring Street Bridge. Plans also entail a centralized amphitheater (or “exhibit court”) and a massive landscaped riverfront plaza that will extend along the embankment and underneath the bridge.
According to Robbins, the ambitious proposal is just now beginning its slow journey through the arduous city planning process which can often take nearly two years to complete. However, CEH is anticipating to have entitlements secured within a year through expedited channels. The city is drafting a specific plan overlay zone for this industrial sector of Downtown that could simplify the red tape.
Once all approvals and permits are obtained, an 18-month construction program would follow.
CEH intends to independently finance the for-lease project. Attesting to the current state of the residential real estate market, Robbins affirms, “This project is a sure bet; it will absolutely happen.”
Considering the extensive amount of local support the developer has received, we believe they have the desire to see it through.
Numerous meetings have been held with the Chinatown community, the City Council office and the LA River Advisory Committee to solicit design input for the project. Its proximity to the Hargeaves-designed Los Angeles State Historic Park is also a championing factor.
And even though the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan may take decades to implement (if ever), I’m sure CEH will be Absolut-ly ready to provide sailboating classes when the day comes that Spring Naud is true waterfront property.
-Spring Naud Project Site Photo Set
-Project Site Plan
-Project Ground Floor Plan
-Project Parking Plan
-artist village proposal contributes to river ritalization
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3 comments
very nice! i always believed that that area round the river and cornfields would be a perfect location for creative, urban types. I cant believe that it will take over a year, possibly two to get permits and such. Why is it so difficult in LA to get anything, ANYTHING, done?
also, any other projects in that area? i would hope they have a master plan for it.
I hope the people that live there like trains. Metrolink trains will be passing right next to the site dozens of times every day on the weekdays, much less on the weekends, but still a few.
I lived at The Citizen’s Warehouse near the First Street Bridge. The trains are not annoying at all. It’s not like the old days. Now with welded rails the train sounds are much reduced.
I wish they were keeping that cool little brick building that sits next to the Spring Street bridge there.
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