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Joint Development – Little Tokyo/Arts District Station

In anticipation of the planned opening of the Regional Connector Transit Project, Metro analyzed opportunities for transit-oriented development along the alignment.

Overview

Location: Central Los Angeles

Phase: Early Planning

Type: Housing and Jobs

With the Regional Connector Transit Project slated to open in 2022, Metro is studying ways to develop Metro-owned land at the new Little Tokyo/Arts District Station. A joint development project in this area could build on downtown LA’s rich cultural assets and help spur housing and commercial development.

Status

After the Metro Board of Directors postponed consideration of Metro staff’s recommendation to enter into an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement and Planning Document (ENA) with Innovative Housing Opportunities (IHO) for Joint Development of the Little Tokyo/Arts District Station in March 2020, we decided not to proceed with the recommendation. In June 2021 Los Angeles City Council-member Kevin de Leon introduced a motion instructing City staff to negotiate and execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Metro for future development of the City-owned First and Alameda Street site (the former Mangrove site) and the Metro-owned Little Tokyo/Arts District Regional Connector site. Metro and the City will begin negotiating the MOU which will require Metro Board of Directors approval.