February 28, 2020

ENVIRONMENTAL CASE NO.: ENV-2018-3456-EIR PROJECT NAME: The Albany Project PROJECT APPLICANT: 1330 West Pico Blvd Group, LLC PROJECT ADDRESS: 1330 W. Pico Boulevard, 1308-1348 S. Albany Street, Los Angeles, California 90015 ADDITIONAL SIGN DISTRICT 1315 W. 14th Street and 1350, 1356 S. Albany Street LOCATION: COMMUNITY PLAN AREA: Westlake COUNCIL DISTRICT: 1 - Cedillo PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD February 28, 2020 – March 30, 2020 SCOPING MEETING March 19, 2020, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. See below for additional information

The City of Los Angeles (City) intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed The Albany Project (Project). In accordance with Section 15082 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, the City has prepared this Notice of Preparation to provide the public, nearby residents and property owners, responsible agencies, and other interested parties with information regarding the Project and its potential environmental effects. The EIR will be prepared by outside consultants under the supervision of the City of Los Angeles, Department of City Planning.

The City requests your written comments as to the scope and contents of the EIR, including mitigation measures or project alternatives to reduce potential environmental impacts from the Project. Comments must be submitted in writing according to directions below. If you represent a public agency, the City seeks written comments as to the scope and content of the environmental information in the EIR that are germane to your agency’s statutory responsibilities in connection with the Project. Your agency may need to use the EIR prepared by the City when considering your permit or other approval for the Project.

A Public Scoping Meeting will be held to receive input as to what environmental topics the EIR should study. No decisions about the Project are made at the Public Scoping Meeting. Additional project details, meeting information, and instructions for public comment submittal are listed below.

PROJECT LOCATION AND EXISTING ON-SITE USES: The Project Site and proposed Sign District are located in the Westlake Community Plan of the City of Los Angeles (City). The Site is bounded on the north by Pico Boulevard, on the west by Albany Street, on the south by 14th Street, and on the east by the Harbor (I-110) Freeway. Existing on-site uses include a three- story office building, a single-family residence, and a church.

See attached Project Location Map.

Notice of Preparation for The Albany Project Page 1 of 4

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Project involves the demolition of an approximately 150,257-square-foot, three-story office building (which has been vacant since 2016) with rooftop and surface parking located on an 114,132-gross-square- foot (2.62-acre) rectangular-shaped site and the construction of a 37-story (480-foot-tall building), 722,005- square-foot (6.45:1 FAR), mixed-use development with a five-level podium and a tower located on the north side of the Project Site. The development would include a 730-guest room hotel, 63,356 square feet of conference space, 5,405 square feet of office (hotel administration) space, 19,665 square feet of restaurant and bar use, and 9,325 square feet of spa/fitness space. Parking would be provided within four subterranean parking levels (approximately 43 feet in depth). The Project would provide short-term and long-term bicycle parking spaces located adjacent to the public right-of-way on Pico Boulevard and Albany Street and within the proposed parking levels. The Project would include the excavation and export of 168,400 cubic yards of soil from the Project Site. A City-initiated Sign District would also be implemented on the Project Site and the adjacent single-family home (1350 Albany) and church (1356 Albany Street and 1315 14th Street) sites that make up the full city block. No other change would be made to the residential use or church. The Project also would include a comprehensive signage program. The Project includes a boundary change to the Pico - Union Historic Preservation Overlay Zone to remove a portion of the site from the Historic District.

Proposed Uses Proposed Uses Quantity Floor Area (sf) Hotel 730 rooms 624,254 Ballroom 21,273 Jr. Ballroom 8,226 Meeting Rooms 26,814 Rooftop Pavilion 7,043 Conference Functions Total 63,356 Hotel Admin Office 5,405 Lobby Restaurant 87 seats 3,233 Lobby Bar 167 seats 3,117 All Day Restaurant 195 seats 7,678 Specialty Restaurant 170 seats 3,710 Rooftop Bar 473 seats 1,917 Restaurants and Bars Total 19,665 Spa/Fitness 9,325 Total 722,005 sf = square feet

REQUESTED ACTIONS: 1. Pursuant to City Charter Section 555 and the Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) Section 11.5.6, a City-Initiated General Plan Amendment from “Commercial Manufacturing” to “Regional Center Commercial” and exemption from Footnote No. 2 of the Westlake Community Plan.

2. Pursuant to LAMC Section 12.32, a City-Initiated Vesting Zone Change and Height District Change from CM-1 and CM-1-HPOZ to C2-4.

3. Pursuant to LAMC Section 12.20.3 F.3, a City-Initiated change to the boundary of the Pico-Union Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ) to remove a portion of the Project Site from the HPOZ.

4. Pursuant to LAMC Sections 13.11, a City-Initiated Sign District on the Project Site and certain

Notice of Preparation for The Albany Project Page 2 of 4 surrounding parcels.

5. Pursuant to LAMC Section 16.05, a Site Plan Review for the development of 50 or more guest rooms or the development of 50,000 square feet or more of non-residential floor area.

6. Pursuant to LAMC Section 12.24 W.1 and W.18, a Master Conditional Use Permit for off-site and on-site sales and consumption of a full line of alcoholic beverages and live entertainment and dancing.

7. Pursuant to LAMC Section 12.24 W.18, a Conditional Use Permit for live entertainment and dancing.

8. Pursuant to LAMC Section 12.24,X.20, a Determination to permit two or more uses to share their off- street parking spaces.

9. Pursuant to LAMC Section 12.27, a Zone Variance to permit reduced short-term bicycle parking requirements.

10. Pursuant to LAMC Section 17.03 and 17.15, a Vesting Tentative Tract Map No. 82122 for the merger of 20 lots into one master lot and subdivision of 17 airspace lots; and a haul route for the export of approximately 168,400 cubic yards of soil.

11. Other discretionary and ministerial permits and approvals that may be deemed necessary, including, but not limited to, temporary street closure permits, grading permits, excavation permits, haul route permit, foundation permits, and building permits.

POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF THE PROJECT: Based on an Initial Study, the proposed project could have potentially significant environmental impacts in the following topic areas, which will be addressed in the EIR:

Air Quality, Cultural Resources, Energy, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Land Use and Planning, Noise, Public Services (fire protection and police protection), Transportation, Tribal Cultural Resources, and Utilities and Service Systems (water, wastewater, solid waste).

PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING:

A Public Scoping Meeting will be held in an open house format to share information regarding the Project and the environmental review process and to receive written public comments regarding the scope and content of the environmental analysis to be addressed in the EIR. City staff, environmental consultants, and project representatives will be available, but no formal presentation is scheduled. You may stop by at any time during the hours listed below to view materials, ask questions, and provide written comments. The City encourages all interested individuals and organizations to attend this meeting. Written comments may be submitted, but there will be no verbal comments or public testimony taken at the Public Scoping Meeting. No decisions about the Project will be made at the Public Scoping Meeting. A separate public hearing for Municipal Code entitlement requests, will be scheduled after the completion of the EIR. The date, time, and location of the Public Scoping Meeting are as follows:

Date: March 19, 2020 Time: 5:00 P.M.–7:00 P.M. Location: The Pico Union Project 1153 Valencia Street Los Angeles, CA 90015

Free parking will be available at the scoping meeting location.

Notice of Preparation for The Albany Project Page 3 of 4

Proter Ranch San Fernando Lake View Terrace 118 210

5 Angeles National Forest Northridge Van Burbank Nuys 170 North Hollywood Glendale 2 101 Pasadena Encino 134 Toluca 210 Sherman Lake Oaks Eagle South 5 Rock 110 Pasadena 405 101 Silver Irwindale PROJECTWest Lake Alhambra Baldwin LOCATIONHollywood Park Beverly Hills Beverly Hills 10 Brentwood Monterey Park Los Angeles City of 1 Industry 10 60 Culver Vernon Montebello City Hacienda Baldwin Heights Hills Huntington Pico Park Rivera 605 Santa Monica 90 Inglewood Marina Del Rey 710 Whittier Los Angeles 110 South Gate International Airport Downey 105 El Segund Hawthorne La Mirada 1 Paramount Manhattan Compton Norwalk Beach 91 Hermosa 5 Beach Gardena Lakewood Cerritos 107 Redondo Torrance Beach 405 Carson Signal Hill Anaheim

Long Beach 22 Pacific Ocean Rancho Palos Huntington Verdes Beach 405

0105 Miles

0 200 400

Scale (Feet) Legend Proposed Sign District Figure 1 Project Site Vicinity Map Source: Google Maps 2019. 62'-0" 521'-2" 87 "0-' 07 "6-' 132'-6" 231'-2" 57'-0" 25'-0" 31'-0" 31'-0" 16'-3" 20'-11" 17'-10" 15'-6" 31'-0" 31'-0" 31'-0" 15'-6" 15'-6" 31'-0" 31'-0" 31'-0" 13'-0" 24'-4" 32'-4" 26'-4" 12'-4" 8'-4" 24'-0" 5'-0" 42'-0" 15'-0"

3-FOOT DEDICATION LINE (NEW PROPERTY LINE) PAGE- EXISTING PROPERTY LINE 25--- 30'-9" 16'-0" 10'-4" SIDEWALK EASEMENT 22'-8"

SLOPE TYP. 3'-0" SHORT TERM BICYCLE EXIT ONLY PARKING 40'-8" 40 SPACES IN OUT DN RAMP DOWN LOBBY 2 COFFEE 20'-0" LINE OF BUILDING ABOVE 0 LOUNGE

' 22'-0" 3'-0" -0 " GRAB&GO R 2345 SF 3 888 SF 0 EXIST. ' EXIST. 6'-8" -0 " 2 R 3 0'- FIRST 0 0 LINE OF CANOPY ' " - 0 R

HOUSE FUNCTION DROP OFF 18'-6" EVANGHELICAL " ABOVE R TYP. 10'-0" 10'-0" FREE CHURCH 24'-6" 30'-0" PARKING LINE OF OPENING ABOVE 20 ft FUNCTION ACCESS ENTRY HOTEL LOBBY 35 ft 3 1-story 0 '- 2 0 16'-0" 2-story " 0 R '- 0 11606 SF " R TELECOM 32'-0"

DN DNUP UPDN 117 SF HOTEL ENTRY 189 SF 28'-0" HOTEL LOBBY 10'-0"

SHORT TERM VALET OFFICE 93'-0" 31'-0" BICYCLE PARKING 149146 SPACES (COVERED) 11606 SF

ENGINEERING Not Enclosed SF LOBBY BAR 62'-0"

2650 SF HOTEL 3117 SF 200'-0"

ENTRY 28'-0" RAMP UP SLOPE TYP. RAMP UP 31'-0" VALET RAMP DOWN VALET RAMP KITCHEN WOMEN'S WC MEN'S WC HOTEL FRONT DESK

740 SF 586 SF

RAMP DOWN 518 SF LONG TERM BICYCLE PARKIN JAN STORAGE SHIPPING / LNDRY 28'-0" 175 SPACES (COVERED) SLOPE TYP. RECEIVING ELEC SLOPE TYP. SLOPE TYP. 85 SF HOTEL FRONT OFF DROP HOTEL 378 SF 92 SF OFFICE

31'-0" UP 774 SF 392 SF MECHANICAL 12'-0" 13'-6" 14'-2" 660 SF UP UP UP HOTEL BOH 1342 SF FIRE BALLROOM TRASH SHIPPING / COMMAND LOADING RECEIVING 11'-0" 10'-0" 11'-0"

BACKUP TELECOM 28'-0" MDF 88 SF ELEC POWER DIST ENTRY MECH 293 SF 3931 SF R 368 SF 0" 43 SF 333 SF 270 SF 0'- UP UP 93 SF

27'-0" 2 95'-2"

R LOADING "

37'-1" 0 ACCESS '-

0 24'-6" 3

VALET 24'-0" ACCESS 15'-3" 4'-0" ELEC SERV DN UP DN UP BOOSTER PROVIDER LINE OF BUILDING ABOVE PUMPS SCREEN WALL VAULT UP DN UP DN 14'-0" EXISTING 22'-2" 14'-0" PROPERTY LINE 541 SF 1030 SF

EXISTING PROPERTY LINE 5 '6 - 01 " 701 ' "4- 357'-0" 523'-0"

AREA SUMMARY SEAT COUNT SUMMARY LEGEND

Lobby Bar / Lounge / Grab & Go: 6,350 ft² Lobby Bar: 167 seats / Lounge: 71 seats / Grab & Go: 16 seats Amenities Hotel Support Mechanical

Hotel Office: 660 ft² Hotel Lobby: 72 seats Building Support Hotel Function Space Parking

Hotel Lobby / BOH: 24,553 ft² Total Seats: 326 Circulation Hotel Guestrooms Podium Elevators

F&B Hotel Circulation/Prefunction Ballroom Elevators

Figure 2 Podium Level 1 Source: HOK, 2019. OLYMPICOL BLVD YM P Scoping Meeting Location IC B LV 11TH1 ST D 1T H ST Date: Thursday, March 19, 2020 CONNECTICUTCO ST NN PARKING Time: 5:00 PME Cto 7:00 PM TI CU T Free parking provided onsite. ST Location: The Pico Union Project

T Street parking available. 1153 Valencia Street S

12TH12 ST E T Los Angeles, CA 90015 N H I ST A 11TH1 PL L 1T BLAINEB ST H PL

E V A T N S

O I Y N N UNIONU AVE A B 11TH11 PL L TH ALBANYA ST PL T S 12TH12 ST A T I H C ST N T E S 12TH1 PL L E 2 A T IN H VALENCIAV ST A PL L BLAINEB ST

PICOP BLVD IC O BL VD

Y PROJECT SITE A W

E V I T L S . A N . A L.A.L LIVE WAY T M S 110 R E A I B C O N TOBERMANT ST E T L S

A Y VALENCIAV ST N A B L ALBANYA ST PICOPI BLVD T CO S BL D VD N 14TH1 ST O 4T BONDB ST H ST

T S 0 100 200 K A OAKO ST Scale (Feet)

Legend Figure 3 Project Site Scoping Meeting Location Map Source: Google Maps,Maps 2019.2020.