Former American Legion Site in the City of Downey - Updates

Join Abode Communities and PATH Ventures, for a community meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, August 11, 2020 at 5:00pm via zoom to discuss the proposed housing development at the former American Legion site located at 11269 Garfield Avenue, Downey CA. The project would include 100 residential units with supportive housing for veterans. The Property, which was formerly occupied by the American Legion Hollydale Post, is comprised of one parcel, approximately 97,400 square feet in size. The County demolished the building and cleared the site in December 2018. This community meeting will provide further details on the site, and will allow community members to answer questions.

Below are further details:

Topic: Veteran Commons Information Session #2

Time: Aug 11, 2020 05:00 PM Pacific Time

Join Zoom Meeting by Zoom App/ Computer:

https://zoom.us/j/92158031562

Meeting ID: 921 5803 1562

Join By Calling in:

Phone #: 16699009128, Meeting ID: 92158031562# US

The City of South Gate will be hosting a community meeting regarding LA County`s Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Rancho Los Amigos South Campus project, in the City of Downey. The community meeting will be on Wednesday, November 13th, from 6:00pm-8:00pm, at SG City Hall. Attendees will have the opportunity to receive information on LA County`s plan to develop administrative offices at the Rancho Los Amigos South Campus.

• For a copy of the meeting slide presentation, please click here
• For a copy of the meeting recording, please click here.

The County of LA has completed the Draft Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIR) for the Proposed Rancho Los Amigos South Campus Project. The Rancho Los Amigos Campus is located on approximately 123 acres of County-owned land within the City of Downey. The South Campus is a 74-acre area between Imperial Highway and Gardendale.

The County proposes to develop three new County administrative buildings (total of approximately 65,000 sf) in the Development Area on the Project Site, including the Internal Services Department (ISD) Headquarters, Probation Department Headquarters, and a County Office Building.

Please click here(PDF, 2MB) for the Notice of Availability of the Draft EIR for the Project and click here(PDF, 2MB) for Spanish. For a copy of the Draft EIR please click the following link https://ceqanet.opr.ca.gov/2017081017/2/Attachment/mUWzVR. A public meeting will be held on October 28, 2019 from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the Barbara J. Riley Community and Senior Center Auditorium 7850 Quill Drive Downey, CA 90242 to discuss the EIR. For a copy of the presentation on the proposed Rancho Los Amigos South Campus Project, please click here(PDF, 6MB). The deadline for public comments on the Draft EIR is November 22, 2019.

This is to inform you that on its Tuesday, September 24th meeting, the LA County Board of Supervisors approved an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement with Abode Communities and PATH Ventures for a potential housing development at the former American Legion site located at 11269 Garfield Avenue. The item was approved unanimously (5-0) and a copy of the report is attached (click here)(PDF, 100KB). An update will be provided once any new information is made available by the County.

This is to inform you that the LA County Development Authority anticipates presenting an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement (ENA) with a selected housing developer for this project to the County Board of Supervisors in October of this year.

During last week’s City Council meeting, the South Gate City Council approved and authorized execution of the attached letter(PDF, 911KB) to the Downey City Council opposing the proposed housing project at 11269 Garfield Avenue in the City of Downey. The South Gate City Council also approved and authorized the execution of the attached letter(PDF, 1MB) to Downey Community Development Director Aldo E. Schindler and City Planner David Blumenthal.

The City of Downey has created a webpage for updates regarding the Rancho South Campus. They have uploaded the Scoping Meeting PowerPoint to the site and will keep the site updated as new information is released/becomes available. The link to the page is click here.

The County of Los Angeles has extended the deadline to submit Request for Proposals (RFP) for an affordable housing project located at the former American Legion site to Thursday, March 7, 2019. There was a public scoping meeting on Monday, February 25, 2019 at the Barbara J. Riley Community Center, in the City of Downey, CA. This meeting was regarding the City of Downey`s preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Rancho Los Amigos South Campus Specific Plan. This proposed specific plan will include new zoning for the former American Legion property. Public Comments will be received by the City of Downey until March 15, 2019. Comments can be sent to the following: Mr. David Blumenthal, City Planner to dblumenthal@downeyca.org, or (562) 904-7154.

The City of Downey has released a Notice of Preparation (NOP) for a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Rancho Los Amigos South Campus Specific Plan. This Specific Plan area includes the former American Legion site. Please click here(PDF, 660KB) for a copy of the NOP.

Among its stated goals, the Specific Plan will promote infill development of vacant properties and encourage various types of uses, including commercial, retail, mixed-use, residential and public/open space. It is anticipated that the Specific Plan will alter the current zoning of the former American Legion site to allow the County’s proposed affordable housing for veterans project.

The public comment period for the NOP closes on March 15, 2019. There will also be a public scoping meeting on Monday, February 25, 2019 at the Barbara J. Riley Community Center 7810 Quill Dr., Downey, CA 90242 at 6:00 pm. The City is currently reviewing the NOP.

This is to inform you that the County of Los Angeles has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for an affordable housing project located at the former American Legion site (please see attached document(PDF, 940KB)).

The Project Site includes one (1) parcel owned by the County, totaling approximately 2.24 acres of land (97,440 square feet), and located in the City of Downey. Both the County and the City of Downey are interested in the development of the Project Site for use as affordable housing for veterans that also include common area space for counseling, physical rehabilitation, and a variety of social, workforce and other related community services for residents and other community members. Proposals are due to the County by February 21, 2019 at 4:30 p.m.

This is to inform you that demolition of the former American Legion site is scheduled to begin within the next 10 Days. We will be monitoring the process to make sure any impacts to the surrounding residences and businesses are minimized. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

The City of South Gate will be having a Community Meeting regarding the former American Legion Site at 11269 Garfield Avenue. Below are details on the meeting:

• Date: Wednesday, December 19, 2018
• Time: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
• Location: South Gate Park Municipal Auditorium; 4900 Southern Avenue

Please feel free to invite anyone that is interested. You will have the opportunity to receive the latest information on the future development of the former American Legion Site.

The American Legion agreed to vacate the LA County-owned property at 11269 Garfield Avenue by November 14, 2018. As of today, the American Legion is still moving furniture out of the buildings. Once the buildings are vacated, it is anticipated that the County will secure the buildings.

Also, yesterday, November 14th, 2018, the LA County Board of Supervisors authorized and appropriated funds for the demolition of the existing structures on the site.

It has been confirmed that the American Legion signed a termination agreement with LA County and has until November 15, 2018 to vacate the property (page 3 of the agreement). Please click here(PDF, 507KB) for details on the agreement.

This is to inform you that at its October 9th meeting the South Gate City Council approved letters opposing the proposed homeless housing development at the American Legion site.

Attached are the letters of opposition addressed to the City of South Gate and Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Hilda Solis(PDF, 499KB), City of Downey and Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Janice Hahn(PDF, 572KB), and City of Downey City Council(PDF, 468KB). These letters have been mailed to the respective individuals.

Also, City staff will post any updates on the American Legion site on this website, under the page “Update – American Legion Site in the City of Downey”.

This is to inform you that the South Gate City Council will be taking a formal position to oppose the proposed homeless housing development at the American Legion site. This proposed development is a cooperative effort between the City of Downey and the County of Los Angeles. The South Gate City Council will take action at its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, October 9, 2018 at 6:30 pm in the South Gate Council Chamber, 8650 California Avenue, South Gate, CA.

To review the staff report and proposed letter stating the South Gate City Council’s opposition to the proposed homeless housing development at the American Legion site please click here(PDF, 210KB). We will be providing an update on the action taken by the City Council following the Tuesday meeting.