Los Angeles Construction Market Mid-Year Report | 2018
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LOS ANGELES CONSTRUCTION MARKET MID-YEAR REPORT | 2018 JUNE 2018 Contents Overview........................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Private Development Activity................................................................................................................................. 2 Downtown Hotel Developments On The Rise................................................................................................ 2 Foreign Investment Slows But Interest Remains High............................................................................... 2 Linkage Fee for Private Developments in DTLA.......................................................................................... 3 Challenges In The Entitlement Process Continue......................................................................................... 3 Public Sector + Institutional Development Activity...................................................................................... 4 Partnerships and M&As Formed To Tackle Mega Projects...................................................................... 4 Impact On Construction Costs............................................................................................................................... 4 Putting It Into Context............................................................................................................................................... 4 Ten50 Client: Trumark Urban Design Architect: HansonLA Executive Architect: Adamson Associates Interior Design: Handel Architects & Interiors General Contractor: Lend Lease Overview In April 2018, US non-residential construction spending exceeded the previous peak in 2008 by 4%. The AIA Architectural Billing Index (ABI), forecasts that this level of activity is expected to extend into 2019. The Western US Region in particular has shown the strongest indicators of continued growth, with a leading average score of 55.7, compared with 54.3 for the South, 53.3 for the Midwest, and 47.9 for the Northeast. Los Angeles alone is projected to grow 3.75% in 2018 and 6.4% in 2019, as reported by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC). By the end of March 2018, the number of permits issued by the City of Los Angeles alone had already exceeded the total 2017 volume by 1,000. Unique growth drivers for Los Angeles County include robust entertainment, biotech, transportation, defense, finance, and healthcare industries, and an ambitious urban revitalization plan, which includes preparations for the upcoming 2028 Olympics. Although this report focuses primarily on construction activities within the City of Los Angeles, markets throughout the region are closely linked and our analysis and recommendations are generally applicable to all cities within the County. Pictured: Original hotel. Hotel is currently under renovation; two new residential towers are currently under construction. Century Plaza Hotel and Residences Client: Woodridge Capital Partners Design Architect: Pei Cobb Freed & Partners Architect of Record: Gensler Preservation Architect: Marmol Radziner Landscape Architect: Rios Clementi Hale Studio General Contractor: Webcor Builders Private Development Activity MGAC Research tracks private developments in the Downtown Hotel Developments On The Linkage Fee for Private Developments in proposed, planned, or under construction stage on an ongoing basis. As of June 2018, this includes nearly 50 major private Rise DTLA projects in the pipeline across the County, the majority of which The Department of Convention and Tourism Development set a In December 2017, the LA City Council approved the Linkage are concentrated in Downtown South Park, Koreatown, and goal in 2012 to increase the total number of hotel rooms within Fee, a fee on development that is expected Hollywood. walking distance of the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) to generate $104.4 million in annual revenue. The City plans to to 8,000 rooms by 2020. As of October 2017, 67% of this goal direct these funds toward the construction and preservation of Over 85% of projects in the pipeline feature a residential com- has been met, with over 4,600 hotel rooms available in the affordable housing. ponent, with many of the units, particularly in Downtown LA, market and over 700 new rooms under construction. being positioned as “luxury” housing. Among these projects The linkage fee will have an immediate cost impact for include: An additional 3,000 hotel rooms have been proposed near the developments filed after June 18, 2018. The current LACC, that, upon completion in 2020, would move the City fee employs a tiered structure in which residential developers • Angels Landing – A $1.2 billion, 88-story mixed-use tower forward to reaching its goal. Major hotels in planning include: are charged between $8-15 per square which was approved in December 2017. foot, and commercial developers $3-5 per square • Grand Avenue – A $1-billion Frank Gehry designed project • Fig+Pico Conference Center Hotels – A 1,000-room hotel foot. However, the City is exploring the feasibility of increasing scheduled to break ground in Fall 2018 developed by the Lightstone Group. the linkage fee amount to $18 per square foot for residential • Chinatown High Rise – A Studio Gang designed 26-story, • City Lights Hotel Towers – A 1024-room hotel developed by development projects in wealthier “high market” areas including Hollywood and DTLA. wavy glass and steel tower that will add 294 apartment TriCal Construction Inc. Kings 838 Residences units and 149 hotel rooms to the old Chinatown • W Hotel at 1020 S Figueroa – A 300-room hotel by Chinese The linkage fees would be phased in 3 steps, beginning four neighborhood. developer Shenzhen Hazens. Client: Darmos Properties Architect: Workplays Studio Architecture months after the ordinance effective date of February 17, 2018: There are also several other major, non-high-rise mixed use • 1600 S. Figueroa – A 250-room hotel within the mixed-use General Contractor: R.D. Olson projects that are changing the landscape of the city, notably the tower developed by L&R Group of Companies. • One-third of the total linkage fee amount will be charged $1.2 billion Lucas Museum of Narrative Art which broke ground for developers submitting building permit or entitlement in March 2018. • Figueroa Centre – A 220-room, 66-story hotel by Regalian applications on or after June 18, 2018. LLC. For a detailed list of major private developments across Los • Two-thirds of the total linkage fee amount will be charged if Angeles County, see the digital version of this report at MGAC. • JW Marriott LA Live – A 850-room, 40 story hotel applications are submitted on or after December 20, 2018. developed by LA Convention Center operator AEG com/blog. • The full linkage fee amount will be charged for applications submitted on or after June 17, 2019. Private Development Activity Challenges In The Entitlement Process Foreign Investment Slows But Interest • The Wilshire Gate – A 33-story mixed-use tower in Koreatown, developed by Jia Long USA, a subsidiary of Jia Continue Remains High Long Beijing. Although LA County continues to draw the bulk of foreign With the amount of large developments planned in LA, the Despite this slowdown in investment activities, interest in investment in Southern California, the overall volume has fallen. entitlement process is becoming more difficult. Southern California real estate, particularly trophy assets, Owners of large development projects may go through lengthy Construction activities by foreign-owned enterprises have continues to remain strong. deliberations with the local community to address various followed this shift with a nearly 60% drop in number of jobs According to Young Kim, Managing Director of 8th Bridge issues including affordable housing, environmental concerns, and wages paid. Over the last year, the high-profile withdrawal Capital, an LA based investment management firm specializing and employment opportunities. of Chinese developers and investors due to mainland capital in Asian EB-5 and private equity funding, “Chinese investors are control policies have been a major contributor to this trend, with still very much interested in what they consider to be stable and One example is the $1.2 billion Broadway Square development Chinese investments reportedly declining by 67% since 2017. often undervalued assets here in LA when compared to other (The Reef) in South Park. Over a year since it was approved in Only a handful of Chinese developments remain on-track in global Tier 1 cities like Beijing or Shanghai. Many of my Chinese November 2016, ground-breaking was finally able to proceed Downtown LA, including: clients believe that these capital controls are a temporary after a public benefits package was agreed upon. This package measure employed by their government due to sensitivities in included the provisions that 5% of the 1,400 units would be Over 85% of projects in the pipeline feature a residential com- the current US-China trade relationship.” set aside for low-income residents, an $18 million contract ponent, with many of the units, particularly in Downtown LA, to preserve affordable housing in the community, and a being positioned as “luxury” housing. Among these projects Investors from other Asian countries share a favorable image of commitment of giving 30% of the construction jobs to local