Joint Development

Metro has a plan for increasing access to opportunity by investing in our communities. It includes partnering with qualified developers to build transit-oriented developments on Metro-owned properties.
 

What is Joint Development?

Metro’s real estate development program supports collaboration with qualified developers to build transit-oriented developments on Metro-owned properties. Metro’s Joint Development sites are a gateway to the transit system and help advance community development goals while attracting new riders to transit.

What are Joint Development's goals?

  • Deliver housing and amenities for everyone, focusing benefits for historically disadvantaged communities
  • Preserve, protect and promote transit infrastructure and use.
  • Respect communities around transit by stabilizing and enhancing housing and other amenities.
  • Increase transit ridership and decrease single occupancy vehicle use.
  • Demonstrate high-quality, pedestrian-oriented design that incorporates fist/last mile and active transportation improvements.
  • Leverage the value of the JD portfolio tp maximize and accelerate positive impact.
  • Streamline process to deliver projects faster without compromising quality or cutting corners. 
  • Pursue new methods of engagement, financing, and construction to deliver projects faster and more quotably. 

What does the Joint Development process look like?

The Joint Development (JD) process begins with creating Development Guidelines, driven by a community engagement process.  In developing these guidelines, Metro works with the community and local regulatory agencies to identify the kind of development and related infrastructure that can help create transit oriented communities.
 
The Development Guidelines document desired land uses, density and amenities for a site; provides neighborhood context; and assess opportunities for integration with active transportation and other community development goals. The Development Guidelines are brought to the Metro Board of Directors for review and adoption.
 
Once Development Guidelines are adopted, Metro solicits development proposals for JD sites through a Request for Information and Qualifications (RFIQ) or a Request for Proposals (RFP).  JD projects are typically completed using a long-term ground lease to a private developer who fully entitles, environmentally clears, designs, finances, and constructs a private development on Metro’s property.

 

What is the Joint Development Policy?

In June 2021, the Metro Board of Directors adopted an updated Joint Development Policy with a mandate to build as much affordable housing near transit for those who need it most, as soon as possible. The new Policy is organized a central principle of “Affordable First” that aims to maximize the agency’s ability to develop affordable housing on Metro-owned properties quickly and equitably. Key provisions of the policy include:
  • Prioritize the development of 100% income-restricted* housing on unused Metro-owned land.
  • To address neighborhood concerns around gentrification and displacement, use local income and rent data to set rents for income-restricted units.
  • If a 100% Income-Restricted project is not feasible or would result in fewer units, require at least 25% of units be set aside for Low-Income households, or equivalent.
  • Prioritize joint development on sites where the need for affordable housing is greatest, and the greatest benefit may be realized fastest.
  • Reduce the cost of housing by limiting parking to 0.5 parking spaces per bedroom.
  • Give preference to development proposals that include Community-Based Organizations and Small Business Enterprises
 
By levering Metro property for housing and other community benefits, the Joint Development Program is a powerful means of improving Angelenos’ access to opportunity.
 
*”Income-Restricted” units are for households earning up to 120% of Area Median Income (AMI), and “Lower Income” units are households earning up to 80% AMI.

 

What Joint Development projects are currently active?

Stay up to date on the Joint Development portfolio by exploring the Joint Development Project Sites Map. 

Boyle Heights
Metro is proceeding with a number of Joint Development efforts in the heart of the Boyle Heights community, located on parcels immediately adjacent to or within walking distance to the Metro L (Gold) Line. The sites are as follows:
 
Division 6 is a former Metro bus maintenance facility located blocks from Venice Beach and within a half-mile radius of Abbot Kinney Boulevard and Windward Circle. The site presents opportunities for developing additional housing, retail and community space in an extremely desirable location.
 
Metro is beginning the process of exploring joint development opportunities at the El Monte Transit Station.
 
The Expo/Crenshaw Station Joint Development site sits at the northern terminus of the K Line and spans over two parcels – a Los Angeles County Probation Department facility slated for relocation and a Metro-owned parcel recently used for construction staging of the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project, opening as the K Line in 2022.
 
Sitting at the crossroads of multiple downtown Los Angeles neighborhoods, the Little Tokyo/Arts District Station Joint Development site is directly adjacent to the under-construction Regional Connector Transit Project station.
 
The North Hollywood Station Joint Development site spans several Metro-owned parcels at the intersection of the B Line (Red) and G Line (Orange), the busiest transit hub in the San Fernando Valley.
 
Taylor Yard is a former 242-acre rail yard located on the Los Angeles River, north of Elysian Park and the I-5/Arroyo Seco Parkway intersection. Metro is developing a mixed-use community on approximately 17.75 acres of Metro-owned property in Taylor Yard.
 
The Vermont/Santa Monica B Line Station Joint Development project presents opportunities to bring additional housing, retail, and community-serving space to the heart of East Hollywood.
 

Westlake/MacArthur Park Station Phase B

The Westlake/MacArthur Park B and D Line Station Joint Development project presents opportunities to bring additional housing, vendor space and community-serving retail to the Westlake Community. Metro is partnering with Walter J. Company to build more affordable and market-rate housing at the Westlake/MacArthur Park Station on the B Line (Red) and D Line (Purple). This  joint development  project at Alvarado Street and Westlake Avenue would include 434 market-rate apartments, 234 income-restricted apartments, 300 hotel rooms, retail amenities and open space. The proposal includes redevelopment of the existing Metro plaza in conjunction with the construction of two high-rise buildings on two adjacent lots owned by the developer.  The plaza improvements would enhance connectivity and transit access throughout the block. 

 

Additional Resources

 

Contact Us

For general inquiries:

Wells Lawson
T: 213.922.7217
Email: lawsonw@metro.net

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Metro LEP information graphic including phone numbers (323-466-3876, ext 2) in various languages.

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