6250 Sunset Project Case Number: ENV-2014-751-EIR State Clearinghouse Number: 2014071039

Department of City Planning - Environmental Analysis Section

City Hall • 200 N. Spring Street, Room 750 • Los Angeles, CA 90012

Volume 1 of 4 Draft EIR – Introduction through Appendix A DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT HOLLYWOOD COMMUNITY PLAN AREA 6250 Sunset Project Case Number: ENV-2014-751-EIR State Clearinghouse Number: 2014071039

THIS DOCUMENT COMPRISES THE FIRST PART OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (EIR) FOR THE PROJECT DESCRIBED. THE FINAL EIR WILL COMPRISE THE SECOND AND FINAL PART.

Project Address: 6230-6254 Sunset Boulevard, and 6237-6253 Leland Way, Los Angeles, CA, 90028 Project Description: The Project proposes a mixed-use development on an approximately 2.06 acre site located between Sunset Boulevard and Leland Way in the Hollywood community of the City of Los Angeles. The Project Site is currently developed with an approximately 38,280 square foot building constructed in the late 1930’s as the Earl Carroll Theatre (ECT Building), and a surface parking lot with accessory structures. The ECT Building has been used by the Nickelodeon on Sunset Corporation (Nickelodeon) as a sound stage for television productions with associated offices since the early 1980’s. The Project would protect and retain the ECT Building and construct a new seven-story, mixed-use building on the western portion of the Project Site. The Project includes approximately 4,700 square feet of ground floor commercial space oriented towards Sunset Boulevard. The Project would include 200 residential units. Five percent of the residential units are restricted as very-low income. The Project would also provide a pedestrian Paseo between the new building and the ECT Building that would link Sunset Boulevard and Leland Way. Other amenities associated with the residential units include a lobby, fitness center, pool terrace, pool, spa area, sky deck, landscaped areas, and a club house/lounge area. Parking would be located in a four-level, parking structure with two levels of subterranean parking, an at- grade parking level, and one level above-grade. Bicycle parking would also be provided.

Council District: 13, Mitch O’Farrell APPLICANT: Essex Portfolio L.P.

PREPARED BY: Environmental Review Section Los Angeles City Planning Department

March 2015

¤£101

N El Centro Ave El Centro N

PROJECT SITE ^

Project Boundary

Regional and Vicinity Map FIGURE o 0 0.125 0.25 Miles 6250 Sunset Source: ESRI Street Map, 2009; PCR Services Corporation, 2014. 1 ¤£101

Yucca Street

Capital Records

Ivar Avenue Ivar

Vine Street Vine

N GowerStreet N Pantages Theatre Hollywood Boulevard W. Hotel and Residences

LA Fitness Mixed Use Residential and Residential and Commercial Commercial

Selma Avenue Selma Avenue Low/Medium Density Residential

Argyle Avenue Argyle Harold Way Sunset & Vine Sunset Mixed Use Commercial Media Tower

N El Centro Avenue El Centro N CBS and Residential Office and Hollywood Columbia

Commercial Avenue Baig La Palladium Square Commercial Sunset Boulevard

Sunset & Vine Sunset Gower Tower Studios

Arclight Cinemas/ Commercial Cinerama Dome Leland Way

Low/Medium

Vine Street Vine Hollywood Density Community Residential GowerStreet N Hospital De Longpre Avenue

Low/Medium Density Residential

Project Boundary

Aerial Photograph of Project Site and Vicinity FIGURE o 0 200 400 Feet 6250 Sunset Source: ESRI, 2010; PCR Services Corporation, 2014. 2 SKY DECK CENTER (FLOOR 7)7 (FLOORS 2 AND 3))

CLUB HOUSE/ LOUNGEE AREA (FLOOR 3)

N Conceptual Site Plan FIGURE 6250 Sunset 3 Source: Harley Ellis Devereaux and Meléndrez, 2014. PCR N Radius Map FIGURE 6250 Sunset 4 Source: Quality Mapping Service, 2014. PCR

Table of Contents

Page

VOLUME 1

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...... ES‐1

1.0 INTRODUCTION ...... 1‐1

2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ...... 2‐1

3.0 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING ...... 3‐1 A. Aesthetics/Visual Resources ...... 4.A‐1 B. Air Quality ...... 4.B‐1 C. Cultural Resources ...... 4.C.1‐1 1. Archaeological and Paleontological Resources ...... 4.C.1‐1 2. Historical Resources ...... 4.C.2‐1 D. Geology and Soils ...... 4.D‐1 E. Greenhouse Gas Emissions ...... 4.E‐1 F. Hazards and Hazardous Materials ...... 4.F‐1 G. Land Use ...... 4.G‐1 H. Noise ...... 4.H‐1 I. Population, Housing and Employment ...... 4.I‐1 J. Public Services ...... 4.J.1‐1 1. Fire Protection ...... 4.J.1‐1 2. Police Protection ...... 4.J.2‐1 3. Libraries ...... 4.J.3‐1 4. Parks and Recreation ...... 4.J.4‐1 K. Transportation and Circulation ...... 4.K‐1

5.0 ALTERNATIVES ...... 5‐1 1. Alternative 1: No Project/No Build Alternative ...... 5‐9 2. Alternative 2: Reduced Density Alternative ...... 5‐17 3. Alternative 3: Site Design Alternative ...... 5‐33 G. Environmentally Superior Alternative ...... 5‐51

6.0 OTHER CEQA CONSIDERATIONS ...... 6‐1

7.0 REFERENCES ...... 7‐1

8.0 LIST OF EIR PREPARERS AND ORGANIZATIONS AND PERSONS CONTACTED ...... 8‐1

City of Los Angeles 6250 Sunset SCH No. 2014071039 i

Table of Contents (Continued)

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A: NOTICE OF PREPARATION (“NOP”), INITIAL STUDY, SCOPING MEETING MATERIALS, AND NOP AND SCOPING MEETING COMMENTS

VOLUME 2

APPENDIX B: AIR QUALITY WORKSHEETS

APPENDIX C: CULTURAL RESOURCES DOCUMENTATION C‐1: Native American Consultation C‐2: Paleontological Resources Record Search Results C‐3: Historical Resources Assessment Report

APPENDIX D: GEOLOGY AND SOILS REPORT

APPENDIX E: GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION WORKSHEETS

VOLUME 3

APPENDIX F: HAZARDOUS MATERIALS DOCUMENTATION F‐1: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment F‐2: Phase 2 Soil Vapor Investigation for Potential Off‐Site Vapor Intrusion

VOLUME 4

APPENDIX G: NOISE WORKSHEETS

APPENDIX H: POPULATION, HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT DATA

APPENDIX I: PUBLIC SERVICES I‐1: Fire Department Correspondence and Supporting Documentation I‐2: Police Department Correspondence I‐3: Library Correspondence I‐4: Department of Recreation and Parks Correspondence

APPENDIX J: TRANSPORTATION AND CIRCULATION J‐1: Transportation Analysis Report J‐2: Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) Approval Letter J‐3: Construction Traffic Analysis

City of Los Angeles 6250 Sunset SCH No. 2014071039 ii

List of Figures

Page

2‐1 Regional and Vicinity Location Map ...... 2‐3 2‐2 Aerial Photograph of Project Site and Vicinity ...... 2‐4 2‐3 Conceptual Site Plan ...... 2‐9 2‐4 Cross Section of the Project ...... 2‐10 2‐5 North and South Elevations ...... 2‐13 2‐6 East and West Elevations ...... 2‐14 2‐7 Perspective 1, Conceptual Building Design – From Sunset Boulevard ...... 2‐15 2‐8 Perspective 2, Conceptual Building Design – From Sunset Boulevard ...... 2‐16 2‐9 Perspective 3, Conceptual Building Design Nighttime View – From Sunset Boulevard ...... 2‐17 2‐10 Perspective 5, Conceptual Building Design – From Leland Way ...... 2‐18 2‐11 Perspective 5‐ Paseo View From Leland Way ...... 2‐19 2‐12 Perspective 6‐ Paseo Elevated View– From Leland Way ...... 2‐20 2‐13 Perspective 7‐ Elevated View of the Project from the West ...... 2‐21 3‐1 Cumulative Projects Map ...... 3‐7 4.A‐1 Photograph Location Map ...... 4.A‐3 4.A‐2 View of Project Site and Surrounding Development from Sunset Boulevard ...... 4.A‐4 4.A‐3 View of Project Site and Surrounding Development from Sunset Boulevard and Argyle Avenue ...... 4.A‐5 4.A‐4 View of Project Site and Surrounding Development from Sunset Boulevard and North El Centro Avenue ...... 4.A‐6 4.A‐5 View of Project Site and Surrounding Development from Leland Way ...... 4.A‐9 4.A‐6 View of Project Site and Surrounding Development from Leland Way and Argyle Avenue ..... 4.A‐10 4.A‐7 Visual Simulation of the Project from Sunset Boulevard facing Southeast ...... 4.A‐27 4.A‐8 Visual Simulation of the Project from Sunset Boulevard facing Southwest ...... 4.A‐28 4.A‐9 Visual Simulation of the Project from Argyle Avenue facing south ...... 4.A‐29 4.A‐10 Visual Simulation of the Project from Leland Way facing northeast ...... 4.A‐33 4.A‐11 Visual Simulation of the Project from Leland Way facing north ...... 4.A‐37 4.A‐12 Winter Solstice Shadows – December 21 ...... 4.A‐43 4.A‐13 Spring Equinox Shadows – March 21 ...... 4.A‐44 4.A‐14 Summer Solstice Shadows – June 21 ...... 4.A‐45 4.A‐15 Autumn Equinox Shadows – September 21 ...... 4.A‐46 4.B‐1 Boundaries of the South Coast Air Quality Management District and Federal Planning Areas ...... 4.B‐3 4.B‐2 Background Inhalation Cancer Risk for Project Site Area ...... 4.B‐11 4.B‐3 Existing Sensitive Receptor Locations Nearest to the Project Site ...... 4.B‐15 4.B‐4 Future Sensitive Receptor Locations Nearest to the Project Site ...... 4.B‐16 4.D‐1 Location of Hollywood Fault ...... 4.D‐3 4.G‐1 Hollywood Community Plan Land Use Designations ...... 4.G‐7 4.G‐2 Zoning ...... 4.G‐11 4.H‐1 Common Noise Levels ...... 4.H‐3 4.H‐2 Noise Measurement Locations and Existing Noise Sensitive Locations ...... 4.H‐7 4.H‐3 Cumulative Construction Noise Projects ...... 4.H‐35 4.J.1‐1 Fire Stations Located in the Vicinity of the Project Site ...... 4.J.1‐3 4.J.2‐1 Location of Hollywood Community Police Station ...... 4.J.2‐3 4.J.3‐1 Libraries Located in the Vicinity of the Project Site ...... 4.J.3‐3

City of Los Angeles 6250 Sunset SCH No. 2014071039 iii

List of Figures (Continued)

Page

4.J.3‐2 Library Districts and Residential Cumulative Projects ...... 4.J.3‐11 4.J.4‐1 Existing Parks and Recreational Facilities Located in the Vicinity of the Project Site ...... 4.J.4‐3 4.K‐1 Local Road Network and Study Intersections ...... 4.K‐3 4.K‐2 Public Transit Lines Serving the Project Vicinity ...... 4.K‐7 4.K‐3 Existing and Proposed Bicycle Facilities Serving the Project Vicinity ...... 4.K‐8 4.K‐4 Trip Distribution for Residential Component ...... 4.K‐31 4.K‐5 Trip Distribution for Non‐Residential Component ...... 4.K‐32 5‐1 Alternative Off‐Site Location ...... 5‐5 5‐2 Elevation of the Site Design Alternative From Sunset Boulevard ...... 5‐35 5‐3 Conceptual Design of the Site Design Alternative ...... 5‐36 5‐4 Winter Solstice Shadows Site Design Alternative ...... 5‐39

List of Tables

Page

2‐1 Project Summary ...... 2‐7 2‐2 Summary of Project Design Features ...... 2‐26 3‐1 Cumulative Projects ...... 3‐3 4.A‐1 Comparison of the Project to Applicable Policies of the General Plan Framework ...... 4.A‐47 4.A‐2 Comparison of the Project with the Applicable Urban Design Policies of the 2012 Hollywood Community Plan ...... 4.A‐49 4.A‐3 Comparison of the Project with Applicable Sections of the Hollywood Redevelopment Plan ...... 4.A‐53 4.A‐4 Comparison of the Project to the CD 13 Urban Design Guidelines ...... 4.A‐55 4.B‐1 Ambient Air Quality Standards ...... 4.B‐5 4.B‐2 Ambient Air Quality Data ...... 4.B‐13 4.B‐3 Estimated Existing Site Emissions (pounds per day) ...... 4.B‐17 4.B‐4 South Coast Air Basin Attainment Status (Los Angeles County) ...... 4.B‐19 4.B‐5 Estimated Maximum Unmitigated Regional (On‐Site and Off‐Site) Construction Emissions (pounds per day) ...... 4.B‐38 4.B‐6 Estimated Maximum Unmitigated Localized Construction Emissions (pounds per day) ...... 4.B‐39 4.B‐7 Estimated Maximum Unmitigated Regional Operational Emissions (pounds per day) ...... 4.B‐41 4.B‐8 Estimated Maximum Unmitigated Localized Operational Emissions (pounds per day) ...... 4.B‐42 4.B‐9 Comparison of the Project to Applicable Air Quality Policies of the General Plan ...... 4.B‐48 4.C.1‐1 Cultural Chronology of the Southern California Coast Region ...... 4.C.1‐2 4.E‐1 State of California Greenhouse Gas Emissions ...... 4.E‐4 4.E‐2 Estimated Existing Site Greenhouse Gas Emissions ...... 4.E‐9 4.E‐3 Estimated Unmitigated Construction Greenhouse Gas Emissions ...... 4.E‐37 4.E‐4 Estimated Unmitigated Annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions ...... 4.E‐39 4.E‐5 Comparison of Project GHG Emissions with BAU Project ...... 4.E‐48 4.G‐1 Comparison of the Project to Applicable Policies of the General Plan Framework Element ...... 4.G‐22 4.G‐2 Comparison of the Project to the Policies of the Walkability Checklist ...... 4.G‐30

City of Los Angeles 6250 Sunset SCH No. 2014071039 iv

List of Tables(Continued)

Page

4.G‐3 Comparison of the Project to Applicable Policies of the 1988 Hollywood Community Plan .... 4.G‐37 4.G‐4 Comparison of the Project to Provisions of the 2012 Hollywood Community Plan Update ..... 4.G‐39 4.G‐5 Consistency of the Project with Applicable Sections of the Hollywood Redevelopment Plan...... 4.G‐48 4.G‐6 Existing and Proposed Zoning ...... 4.G‐54 4.G‐7 Comparison of the Project to Applicable Land Use Regulations of the LAMC ...... 4.G‐55 4.G‐8 Consistency of the Project with Applicable Policies of the 2012 ‐ 2035 Regional Transportation Plan and Compass Blueprint ...... 4.G‐60 4.H‐1 Summary of Ambient Noise Measurements ...... 4.H‐9 4.H‐2 Traffic Noise Model Calibration Results ...... 4.H‐10 4.H‐3 Predicted Existing Vehicular Traffic Noise Levels ...... 4.H‐11 4.H‐4 City of Los Angeles Presumed Ambient Noise Levels ...... 4.H‐13 4.H‐5 City of Los Angeles Land Use Compatibility for Community Noise ...... 4.H‐14 4.H‐6 Construction Equipment Noise Levels ...... 4.H‐21 4.H‐7 Estimate of Construction Noise Levels (Leq) at Existing Off‐Site Sensitive Receiver Locations ...... 4.H‐22 4.H‐8 Off‐Site Traffic Noise Impacts – Existing Baseline Conditions...... 4.H‐24 4.H‐9 Off‐Site Traffic Noise Levels – Future 2017 Baseline Conditions ...... 4.H‐25 4.H‐10 Typical Vibration Velocities for the Project Construction Equipment ...... 4.H‐30 4.I‐1 2010 Population and Housing Census Estimates ...... 4.I‐2 4.I‐2 Projected Population, Housing and Employment Estimates ...... 4.I‐3 4.I‐3 Project Population, Housing and Employment ...... 4.I‐13 4.I‐4 Project Population, Housing and Employment Impacts ...... 4.I‐14 4.I‐5 Cumulative Development ...... 4.I‐20 4.I‐6 Cumulative Population, Housing and Employment Impacts ...... 4.I‐21 4.J.1‐1 Fire Stations Located in the Vicinity of the Project Site ...... 4.J.1‐2 4.J.1‐2 Fire and Paramedic Incident Data ...... 4.J.1‐5 4.J.1‐3 Cumulative Projects within the LAFD and LACFD Service Areas ...... 4.J.1‐18 4.J.2‐1 Population, Officer, Crime, and Response Time Comparison ...... 4.J.2‐5 4.J.2‐2 Crime Statistics (2013) ...... 4.J.2‐6 4.J.2‐3 Cumulative Population for Police Services ...... 4.J.2‐16 4.J.3‐1 Library Facilities Located in the Vicinity of the Project Site ...... 4.J.3‐2 4.J.3‐2 City of Los Angeles Public Library Branch Building Size Standards ...... 4.J.3‐6 4.J.3‐3 Estimated Cumulative Population in Library Service Areas ...... 4.J.3‐13 4.J.4‐1 Existing Parks and Recreational Facilities Located in the Vicinity of the Project Site ...... 4.J.4‐5 4.J.4‐2 Summary of Project Open Space and Recreational Amenities ...... 4.J.4‐12 4.J.4‐3 Estimated Cumulative Impacts to Parks and Recreational Facilities ...... 4.J.4‐18 4.K‐1 Level of Service Definitions for Signalized Intersections...... 4.K‐12 4.K‐2 Existing (2014) Service Levels for Study Intersections ...... 4.K‐13 4.K‐3 Project Construction‐Related Trip Generation ...... 4.K‐25 4.K‐4 Project Trip Generation (Creative Office and Studio) ...... 4.K‐26 4.K‐5 Project Trip Generation (All Creative Office) ...... 4.K‐28 4.K‐6 Directional Trip Distribution ...... 4.K‐29 4.K‐7 Project Construction Intersection Level of Service Analysis ...... 4.K‐35 4.K‐8 Project Construction Intersection Level of Service Analysis ...... 4.K‐37 4.K‐9 Existing Plus Project Intersection Level of Service Analysis ...... 4.K‐39 4.K‐10 Future Plus Project Intersection Level of Service Analysis ...... 4.K‐41 4.K‐11 Project Transit Trip Summary ...... 4.K‐44

City of Los Angeles 6250 Sunset SCH No. 2014071039 v

List of Tables (Continued)

Page

4.K‐12 Vehicle Parking Spaces Required By Municipal Code ...... 4.K‐47 4.K‐13 Bicycle Parking Spaces Required By City Code ...... 4.K‐47 5‐1 Alternative 2 Net Trip Generation Summary ...... 5‐26 5‐2 Alternative 2‐ Existing (2014) and Future (2017) Traffic Conditions ...... 5‐27 5‐3 Comparison of Impacts Associated with the Alternatives and the Project ...... 5‐47

City of Los Angeles 6250 Sunset SCH No. 2014071039 vi

List of Tables(Continued)

Page

City of Los Angeles 6250 Sunset SCH No. 2014071039 vii