HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 11a - Huntington Plaza Project Update
DATE: March 5, 2024
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Jason Kruckeberg, Assistant City Manager/Development Services Director
SUBJECT: REPORT, DISCUSSION, AND DIRECTION RELATED TO THE
PROGRESS OF THE “HUNTINGTON PLAZA” MIXED-USE
DEVELOPMENT AT 117-129 E. HUNTINGTON DRIVE AND 124-136
WHEELER AVENUE AND THE RELATED DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
FOR THIS PROJECT
CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: Receive and File
SUMMARY
The proposed mixed-use development at 117-129 E. Huntington Drive and 124-136
Wheeler Avenue, known as the “Huntington Plaza” mixed-use development (the
“Project”), was approved by the City Council on August 18, 2020. The Project included a
Development Agreement between the property owner (New World International, LLC),
and the City, to ensure public parking was provided to benefit the businesses and visitors
of Downtown Arcadia. The purpose of this report is to provide the City Council an update
on the progress of this Project.
BACKGROUND
On August 18, 2020, the City Council approved a mixed-use development project on the
subject site, which included 10,200 square feet of commercial space, 139 condominiums,
a publicly accessible plaza fronting Huntington Drive, and a single level of subterranean
parking. To facilitate the Project, a portion of the alley between Huntington Drive and
Wheeler Avenue must be vacated to accommodate the basement parking. An easement
for public access will subsequently be granted to maintain surface-level vehicular and
pedestrian access through the alley. Furthermore, the Project included a Development
Agreement between the City and the Applicant/Property Owner. The Development
Agreement allowed for the inclusion of the City-owned public parking lot on Wheeler
Avenue as part of the Project, subject to the replacement of 55 public parking spaces
within the project boundaries. A parking and access easement agreement was also
recorded along with the Development Agreement to facilitate public parking.
Huntington Plaza Project
March 5, 2024
Page 2 of 3
ANALYSIS
Construction plans were submitted to the City’s Building Division for review on May 20,
2021. No Building Permit has been issued to date for the Project. The plans have
undergone five rounds of review, and a sixth plan-check is currently in progress. In
addition, many of the steps necessary to facilitate the issuance of a building permit have
not yet been accomplished, including relocation of public utilities out of the adjacent public
alley and the formal vacation of the public alley (requires City Council review).
Additionally, the Vesting Tentative Tract Map for the Project has been extended twice,
once administratively, and once by the Planning Commission; the Tract Map is now set
to expire on August 18, 2024.
Development Services Department staff have repeatedly expressed concerns about the
Applicant’s slow progress in meetings and in writing (Refer to attached letters dated May
12, 2022, August 18, 2022, and May 12, 2023). This correspondence was provided to the
Planning Commission during the hearing to extend the Tract Map, and at that time, it was
made clear to the Commission and Applicant that a review of the project was forthcoming;
this is that review. To date, significant concerns remain about the ongoing delays and the
Applicant’s ability to successfully complete the Project.
During this time, the subject property has also created numerous code enforcement
issues, with multiple notices of violation and citations for maintenance, graffiti, and safety
concerns. There was also a significant fire at 128 Wheeler Avenue, which destroyed the
building and damaged the adjacent buildings at 124 and 134 Wheeler Avenue. This fire
occurred on October 8, 2022. It took nearly one year for these properties to be
demolished, and they have remained a source of concern for Downtown businesses, a
public eyesore, and a nuisance to the area.
A verbal report will be provided to the City Council at the Council Meeting on March 5,
2024. Representatives of New World International, LLC will be present at the meeting to
provide a presentation and answer questions about the state of the Project.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) determination was made at project
approval by the City Council on August 18, 2020. This review is not considered a project
under CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the City’s budget as a result of receiving and filing this report.
Huntington Plaza Project
March 5, 2024
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council determine that this action does not constitute a
project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); and receive and file this
report.
Attachment No. 1: Letter dated May 12, 2022, detailing Plan Check corrections
Attachment No. 2: Letter dated August 18, 2022, detailing delays in process
Attachment No. 3: Letter dated May 12, 2023, notice of Planning Commission hearing
on Tract Map Extension
Attachment No. 1
Attachment No. 2
Attachment No. 3