Plans for Large, Vacant Lot in NoHo Remain Unknown

While it appears big enough to lay down turf for a football field, a large plot of land in a residential NoHo neighborhood has sat vacant for more than three years. 

Originally planned as the site of a six-story, 308-unit apartment building, its developer went bankrupt and the property went into foreclosure, said Doug Mensman, planning deputy for Los Angles City Councilman Tom LaBonge.

The site’s address is listed on city permits as 5031 N. Fair Ave. It covers two city blocks and is sandwiched between apartments, condominiums and single-family homes on a lot north of Camarillo Street, west of Lankershim Boulevard, south of Magnolia Boulevard and east of Tujunga Avenue.

According to the February 2008 Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety permit, the project was approved as a six-story building, including one level devoted to underground parking. The apartments were to include 11 studios, 140 one-bedrooms, 147 two-bedrooms and 10 three-bedrooms.

Earlier this month, Drew Colquitt of Alliance Residential Co., which maintains the property, said the lot is now owned by Prudential Real Estate, which may take up the project.

“We are consulting with them to help them determine if they will move forward,” Colquitt said. His company makes sure the site is ready when Prudential is ready to start construction, Colquitt said. “I think the intent is to finish the nice apartment buildings that were started,” he said.

Colquitt expected to have confirmation of the developer’s plans by this past Tuesday, but Colquitt has not been available for comment.

Although area residents have been looking at the vacant lot for several years, some say they have noticed activity there recently. Roxie Gandia, who has lived just north of the property for four years, said that in the past few weeks she has seen people on the site and noted that trailers had recently been brought in. But, she added, she has seen activity on the lot in the past, only to see the work stop.

If Prudential moves forward with plans for building the apartments, it will be competing with other new developments in the area, including the and a set to replace the Commonwealth Savings and Loan Building.

While any new development would take time to reach completion, the neighborhood is currently surrounded by apartments with vacancy signs posted.