Project Description: Jia Yuan USA Co, Inc., the Applicant, proposes to develop a mixed-use residential, hotel and commercial project located at 1020 S. Figueroa Street on an approximately 2.7 acre ‘L’-shaped site (Project Site) bounded by S. Figueroa Street to the west, S. Flower Street to the east, Olympic Boulevard to the north, and 11th Street to the south. The Project Site is currently developed with the nine-story Luxe City Center Hotel (Luxe Hotel) and surrounding surface parking lots, which would be removed to support the Project. The Project would include up to 1,129,284 square feet of floor area (approximately 9.7:1 floor area ratio [FAR]) in three towers atop an eight level podium with up to four subterranean levels and four levels above grade. The Project would include a total of up to 300 hotel rooms, 650 residential condominium units, and 80,000 square feet of restaurant, retail, and other commercial uses at the first two levels along all street frontages. Phase I of the Project would include the construction of the 34-story Hotel Tower located on the corner of 11th Street and S. Figueroa Street and the construction of the 32-story Residential Tower 1 that would include up to 290 residential units and would be located at the corner of 11th Street and S. Flower Street. During Phase 2, the 38-story Residential Tower 2 would be constructed that would include up to 360 residential units and would be located at the corner of S. Figueroa Street and W. Olympic Boulevard. Of these 360 units, approximately 14 live-work loft units would be developed in the Podium on levels three and four. The Hotel Tower would include up to 300 hotel rooms, along with banquet facilities, conference space and amenities. Parking would be provided within the Podium with primary access from Olympic Boulevard, S. Flower Street, and 11th Street.
Permits and Approvals: Discretionary entitlements, reviews, and approvals required for implementation of the Project would include, but would not necessarily be limited to, the following: 1.) Development Agreement by and between the City of Los Angeles and the Applicant; 2.) Transfer of Floor Area Rights (TFAR) from the Los Angeles Convention Center (City Owned Donor Site) at 1201 S. Figueroa Street, to the subject site, located at 1020 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles allowing an FAR of 9.7:1 and 1,129, 284 square feet in lieu of a 6:1 FAR; 3.) Approval of a new Sign District; 4.) Project Permit Compliance for Signage; 5.) Determination under the City Center Redevelopment Plan, as necessary to allow a residential use in a commercial zone or a commercial use in a residential zone; 6.) Master Conditional Use Permit for the sale and service of alcohol and live entertainment; 7.) Site Plan Review for a project resulting in an increase of 50 residential units and greater than 50,000 square feet of nonresidential floor area; 8.) Vesting Tentative Tract Map; 9.) Variation from Downtown Design Guide, Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Streetscape Plan, and Downtown Street Standards, if necessary; 10.) Other approvals as needed and as may be required such as construction permits, including building permits, grading, excavation, foundation, and associated permits; 11.) Haul route permit, as may be required; and 11.) Other approvals as needed and as may be required.
Anticipated Significant Environmental Effects: Based on the analysis contained in this Draft EIR, implementation of the Project would result in significant and unavoidable construction impacts related to noise and vibration, cumulative construction impacts related to noise and traffic, and Project traffic impacts at three intersections. Other issues addressed in the Draft EIR include aesthetics; air quality; cultural resources (archeological and paleontological resources, historical resources); greenhouse gas emissions; hazards and hazardous materials; land use and planning; noise; population, housing and employment, public services (fire protection and emergency medical services, police protection, libraries, parks and recreation); transportation and circulation and utilities and services systems. With implementation of mitigation measures, no other significant and unavoidable impacts are expected to occur as a result of construction or operation of the Project.
Document Review and Comment: If you wish to review a print copy of the Draft EIR or the documents referenced in the Draft EIR, you may do so during office hours (between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.) at the City of Los Angeles, Department of City Planning, 200 North Spring Street, City Hall, Room 750, Los Angeles, CA, 90012. The Draft EIR is available online at the Department of City Planning’s website at http://planning.lacity.gov by clicking on the “Environmental” tab, then “Draft EIR.” Print and digital versions are also available at the following Library Branches:
1. Los Angeles Central Library, 630 West Fifth Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071
2. Pico Union Branch Library, 1030 S. Alvarado Street, Los Angeles, CA 90006
3. Little Tokyo Branch Library, 203 S. Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
4. Felipe de Neve Branch Library, 2820 W. 6th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90057
5. Chinatown Branch Library, 639 N. Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
The Draft EIR can also be purchased on CD-ROM for $7.50 per copy. Contact Christina Toy Lee, at (213) 473-9723 to purchase copies. The review period for the Draft EIR begins on September 8, 2016 and ends on October 25, 2016. If you wish to submit comments regarding the Draft EIR, please reference the file number above and submit in writing by October 25, 2016 no later than 4:00 p.m.
Please direct your comments to:
Christina Toy Lee, City Planner
Los Angeles Department of City Planning
200 North Spring Street, Room 750
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Fax: (213) 978-1343
E-mail: christina.toy-lee@lacity.org
Circulation Period: September 8, 2016 – October 25, 2016
Draft Environmental Impact Report
