The Walter J Company has proposed the Centro Westlake Project, which would transform the Westlake / MacArthur Park station by adding much needed housing, new transit amenities, retail, hotel and an actively programmed plaza space showcasing local artisans and entertainment.
The proposed Project is a Joint Development project with LA Metro and is situated along Westlake Avenue between Wilshire Boulevard and 7th Street, located above the Westlake/MacArthur Park Metro Station.
Centro Westlake will reflect the Westlake neighborhood–rich with culture, community, and history. Located above the Metro B (Red) Line, the location is already a natural gathering point in the community. Centro Westlake will encourage such gatherings and enhance community connections by creating access to housing, transportation, health and wellness services, and economic opportunities. Centro Westlake offers a mixture of affordable and market rate housing, vibrant retail, office, and hotel uses.
The proposed project includes:
- Much-needed housing, with a generous commitment to affordability.
- 668 Apartments (234 income restricted units with long-term covenants)
- 36 units for seniors – Section 8 Vouchers
- 66 units at 30-50% AMI
- 66 units at 50-80% AMI
- 66 units at 120-150% AMI
- 668 Apartments (234 income restricted units with long-term covenants)
- A 300-room hotel that will offer Hospitality Industry Training through a partnership with Unite HERE! Local 11.
- Multi-level pavilion with exciting dining and retail opportunities.
- New office and medical office space.
- Space, programming for community services and business resources.
- Retail space, with a significant portion reserved for minority-owned businesses and for businesses that are owned and operated by Westlake/MacArthur Park stakeholders.
- A community plaza, designed as a cooperative “Marketplace for Local Artisans” that will feature the work of local artists, craftsmen, performers, entrepreneurs, including space for street vending stations and kiosks.
- Multimodal mobility hub along with ample parking.
Community Support
Hilda Solis
Metro Board Member and LA County Supervisor, District 1
“The housing and homelessness crisis affecting MacArthur Park and the County of Los Angeles is a big challenge – no one project will help to solve it. However, making this significant investment in MacArthur Park through the development of affordable housing, enhancing the transit plaza, and creating an international marketplace will help to bring hope to local families.”
Jennifer A. Gill
Bike Advocate, Westlake/MacArthur Park resident, and member of the Project Advisory Task Force
“The Project will add security features in and around the Metro Station, the open-design plaza space will make the stations more user -friendly for transit users, pedestrian, and bicyclists, and will create new and exciting public space designed for families, workers, and local small businesses to enjoy.”
Ernesto Medrano
Executive Secretary of the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council
“The Westlake MacArthur Park area is in dire need of investment and more affordable, dignified housing. The Building Trades has the skilled women and men to construct this important Transit Oriented Development project and create apprenticeships for the local youth. We want to thank WJC for a Project Labor Agreement which recognizes the benefits of building with quality union labor.”
Gustavo Yanez
Westlake/MacArthur Park resident and member of the Project Advisory Task Force
“As part of the Project Advisory Task Force, we had many robust conversations and listening sessions about the need for affordable housing. This Project reflects community feedback provided. The combination of WJC properties with the Metro-owned site is a game changer and will bring economic opportunities to the area.”
Hilda Solis
Metro Board Member and LA County Supervisor, District 1
“The housing and homelessness crisis affecting MacArthur Park and the County of Los Angeles is a big challenge – no one project will help to solve it. However, making this significant investment in MacArthur Park through the development of affordable housing, enhancing the transit plaza, and creating an international marketplace will help to bring hope to local families.”
Jennifer A. Gill
Bike Advocate, Westlake/MacArthur Park resident, and member of the Project Advisory Task Force
“The Project will add security features in and around the Metro Station, the open-design plaza space will make the stations more user -friendly for transit users, pedestrian, and bicyclists, and will create new and exciting public space designed for families, workers, and local small businesses to enjoy.”
Ernesto Medrano
Executive Secretary of the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council
“The Westlake MacArthur Park area is in dire need of investment and more affordable, dignified housing. The Building Trades has the skilled women and men to construct this important Transit Oriented Development project and create apprenticeships for the local youth. We want to thank WJC for a Project Labor Agreement which recognizes the benefits of building with quality union labor.”
Commitment to Community
Centro Westlake invited the community to be part of the process as meetings were held to coincide with project updates to inform and gather feedback from stakeholders about the project’s progress. Throughout the approximately two years of program outreach, Centro Westlake hosted 6 community workshops and 8 PATF meetings. Each meeting offered multiple stations staffed with project team members to share updates and field attendees’ questions. Stations offered interactive project boards for attendees to share feedback and comment on project plan announcements.
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The Centro Westlake team has maintained continuous communication with community stakeholders through a targeted stakeholder database including over 100 contacts of community organizations, non-profits, businesses, government organizations, schools and individuals who are notified of all updates and events relating to Centro Westlake.
The Project Advisory Task Force (PATF) included a cross section of stakeholders such as City, County, and agency leaders, local nonprofit organizations, local business owners and other relevant stakeholders. PATF and community workshop topics included the ENA Process, Project Overview, Plaza Programming, Design Goals, Planning Principles, Site Plan Updates, Art Programing, Affordable Housing, Stakeholder Feedback and Final Design Reveal. Meetings included a mix of presentations and conversations allowing for a back and forth between the Centro Westlake team and community members.
In between meetings, the project team shared project updates, conducted 341 surveys in the Westlake/MacArthur Park area, and organized Community giving events of food distributions, toy drives, school supplies distributions, and Thanksgiving Turkey giveaways. The evolution of the project is a culmination of approximately two years of ongoing outreach with local stakeholders, local community-based organizations through community workshops and a Project community advisory board known as PATF (Project Advisory Task Force).
Project Improvements Based on Stakeholder Input
- Enhanced visibility and access to Metro and bus stops from all directions.
- Plaza activated with transit supporting retail and community serving functions.
- Clear sight lines and building geometry to support security.
- Parking/service access contained within buildings with access from Westlake and alleys.
Project Partners
Walter J Company and
Walter “Dr. J” Jayasinghe
Walter J Company is a strategic consulting and managerial company…
Metro
Joint Development (JD) is the real estate development program through...
