title
CC - ACTION ITEM: (1) Discussion and Selection of the Redevelopment Proposal from the West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation for City-Owned Property at 11029 Washington Boulevard (APN 4213-003-018); (2) Adoption of a Resolution Declaring City-Owned Property at 11029 Washington Boulevard as Exempt Surplus Land Pursuant to Government Code Section 54221(f)(1)(F) for the Use of Said Property for Affordable Housing Development, and Finding the Declaration Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act; and (3) Direction to Draft an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation to Negotiate the Lease for the Construction of a Mixed-Use Affordable Housing Project.
body
Meeting Date: January 26, 2026
Contact Person/Dept.: Mark Muenzer, Planning and Development Director
Emily Stadnicki, Current Planning Manager
Phone Number: (310) 253-5702 / (310) 253-5727
Fiscal Impact: Yes [ ] No [X] General Fund: Yes [ ] No [X]
Attachments: Yes [X] No []
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (01/22/2026)
Department Approval: Mark E. Muenzer, Planning and Development Director/Interim Housing and Human Services Director (1/14/2026)
_____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council (1) discuss and select the Planning Commission and staff recommended redevelopment proposal from the West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation (WHCHC) for the City-owned Property at 11029 Washington Boulevard (APN 4213-003-018); (2) adopt a resolution declaring the City-owned property at 11029 Washington Boulevard as Exempt Surplus Land pursuant to Government Code Section 54221(f)(1)(F) (Attachment 1); and (3) direct staff to draft an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with WHCHC to negotiate the lease of the property for the construction of a mixed-use affordable housing project.
BACKGROUND
On September 9, 2023, the City Council approved the purchase of the property located at 11029 Washington Boulevard, the former Martin B. Retting gun shop (the Property). The property is a 0.2777-acre parcel containing a 4,660 square foot, one-story building with a former retail and office use built in 1953. The parcel is zoned Mixed-Use Corridor 1 (MU-1) - 35 dwelling units per acre.
Community Input
At the May 28, 2024, City Council meeting, the Council discussed how to determine the future use of the property. The City Council directed staff to return with a proposal for a robust public input process to determine the future use of the property. Staff presented a public input proposal at the September 10, 2024, City Council meeting, which was approved by City Council. Public input took place from September 2024 through November 2024.
Request for Proposals
At the City Council meeting on April 14, 2025, Council discussed the public input received. After discussion, the City Council directed staff to issue a request for proposals for a redevelopment project at the site that would include housing, commercial, and community space. At the July 9, 2025 City Council meeting, Council directed staff to request Planning Commission to recommend the top proposal to the City Council.
Redevelopment Proposals
The request for proposals for the redevelopment of the site was posted to the City’s webpage on May 29, 2025; proposals were due on August 28, 2025. The City received six proposals. One proposal was rejected because the proposer did not fulfill all of the requirements specified in the request for proposals (they also did not attend the mandatory site visit).
A panel of staff from the City Manager’s Office and the Housing and Human Services and Planning and Development Departments reviewed the five remaining proposals (Attachment 4) and rated them out of a total of 100 possible points, using the criteria (Attachment 5) specified in the request for proposals.
The staff panel rated the five proposers and their proposals as follows:
West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation 93
Venice Community Housing Corporation 89
Decro Corporation 81
Develop With Skill, Design With Skill 76
Eleos Ventures, LLC 70
Planning Commission
The proposers were invited to attend the September 24, 2025, Planning Commission meeting to each give a presentation about their proposed projects, as well as answer questions from the Planning Commission. After public comment and further discussion, Commissioners recommended the West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation (WHCHC) proposal by a 4-1 vote. See Attachment 3 for the Planning Commission staff report and Attachment 6 for the approved minutes.
Recommended Proposal
WHCHC has proposed a seven-story, 67-unit all-affordable housing development, with a mix of one and two-bedroom units, all of which would be affordable to lower income households earning between 30% and 80% of the area median income workforce households, with a preference for teachers. It would contain resident services, artist lofts, and a community art center on the ground floor. WHCHC’s proposal is included as Attachment 2.
DISCUSSION
Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA)
Staff proposes to negotiate an initial ENA to establish the terms under which the Parties will endeavor to negotiate a lease for the Property. The ENA prohibits the City from negotiating with any party other than WHCHC for the disposition of the Property during the term of the ENA.
The Parties will use the negotiating period to conduct due diligence on the proposed lease and the proposed project’s feasibility. The negotiation period will end on the earlier of (1) the date the Parties enter into a lease or (2) one year from the start of negotiations. If the negotiations are successful, staff will bring the lease to the City Council for final consideration.
Exemption from Surplus Land Act
Pursuant to California Government Code Section 54220 et seq. (the “Surplus Land Act”), the City Council must declare the Property to be either “Surplus Land” or “Exempt Surplus Land” before the City Council may take action to dispose of it, either by sale or long-term lease. The Property qualifies as Exempt Surplus Land pursuant to Government Code Section 54221(f)(1)(F) because the Property is proposed to be developed for a housing development, which may have ancillary commercial ground floor uses, that restricts 100 percent of the residential units to persons and families of low or moderate income. The California Department of Housing and Community Development (“HCD”) will review the Surplus Land Act Resolution and the Draft ENA before the City enters into a long-term lease agreement.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION
Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) this action is not a "project" subject to CEQA pursuant to Section 21065 of CEQA and Sections 15004(b)(4) and 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines and, as such, no environmental document pursuant to CEQA is required. Furthermore, under guidelines, Section 15061(b)(3), if this were a “project”, it would be exempt because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that it will have a significant effect on the environment. The actual proposed project will be analyzed for CEQA compliance when the Site Plan Review application is submitted.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
Selecting the preferred proposal, declaring the Property to be Exempt Surplus Land, and entering into the ENA do not have any fiscal impacts. Entering into a lease for the Property will have fiscal impacts that will be explored during the term of the ENA.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2026-01-26_ATT1_Resolution Declaring the Property to be Exempt Surplus Land
2. 2026-01-26_ATT2_WHCHC Proposal
3. 2026-01-26_ATT3_Planning Commission Staff Report, September 24, 2025 (without attachments)
4. 2026-01-26_ATT4_Additional Proposals
5. 2026-01-26_ATT5_Scoring Criteria
6. 2026-01-26_ATT6_Minutes from September 24, 2025 Planning Commission
recommended action
MOTION
That the City Council:
1. Select the Planning Commission recommended redevelopment proposal from the West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation (WHCHC) for the City-owned Property at 11029 Washington Boulevard (APN 4213-003-018);
2. Adopt a resolution declaring the City-owned property at 11029 Washington Boulevard as Exempt Surplus Land pursuant to Government Code section 54221(f)(1)(F) for the use of said property for affordable housing development, and finding the declaration exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act; and
3. Direct staff to draft an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with WHCHC to negotiate the lease of the City-owned property at 11029 Washington Boulevard for the construction of a mixed-use affordable housing project.