Meeting_Body
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
MARCH 19, 2020
Subject
SUBJECT: INVENTORY OF SUITABLE LOCATIONS FOR TEMPORARY HOMELESS HOUSING ON METRO LAND
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
CONSIDER:
1. RECEIVING AND FILING Metro Property Inventory for Temporary Sheltering of the Homeless Report (Attachment A); and
2. DELEGATING authority to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to enter into no-fee leases with local jurisdictions for temporary (less than five years) supportive homelessness-related facilities, including bridge housing for Metro-owned properties that do not have a conflicting transit or joint development purpose.
Issue
ISSUE
According to the 2019 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Point-in-Time Count released by Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), 36,300 homeless individuals reside in the City of Los Angeles, 27,221 of who are unsheltered. In May 2018, Metro prepared an inventory of Metro-owned property suitable for temporary homeless housing. This item is to update the inventory of available properties as of February 2020 and delegate authority to the CEO to enter into no-fee leases in order to facilitate processing of temporary homeless shelters.
Background
BACKGROUND
At the May 2018 Board meeting (File #: 2018-0214), the Real Estate staff, working with System Safety and Law Enforcement, provided an inventory of locations suitable for use as sites to locate temporary housing of the homeless.
The updated inventory has utilized the following criteria:
1. Level site conditions;
2. Site is at least 285 feet by 125 feet;
3. Water, power, and sewer in the adjacent street;
4. Available for a minimum of three years; and
5. Not subject to a binding agreement.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
The updated inventory provides 7 sites suitable for temporary shelters based on the established criteria. The sites are situated along the Orange Line, West Santa Ana right of way, and the southeastern portions of the City of Los Angeles.
The total available square footage is calculated at approximately 1.7 million square feet or 40 acres. Three sites are located within the City of Los Angeles: two within Paramount and one each within Artesia and Bellflower.
Equity Platform
The inventory and any eventual site provide an opportunity for Metro’s underutilized land to ameliorate the circumstances many of the county’s residents face around housing security.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no direct financial or budgetary impact from the development of this inventory. The sites will be made available with no lease fee for temporary homeless uses. There is a potential loss of revenue from not leasing the properties at market rent, but also a potential to lower maintenance costs for unutilized sites.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
The development of a temporary shelter location inventory correlates to Metro’s Strategic Goal 4 to “Transform LA County through regional collaboration and national leadership” by engaging in the region’s most challenging issue and providing support and assistance to those agencies actively working to end homelessness.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The Board may choose not to authorize the CEO to execute the no-fee leases. This is not recommended as homelessness continues to be a challenging issue that requires housing and supportive services, and obtaining board approval delays the timeframe in which leases can be executed.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Real Estate will make the inventory available to the county and cities in which these properties are located and work with those agencies to determine if there is a suitable fit. Real Estate staff will return to the Board for any proposed lease which would have a potential impact on the timing or construction method of a transit project or joint development project, or which would reduce asset management revenues being utilized for transit operations.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Metro Property Inventory for Temporary Sheltering of the Homeless
Prepared_by
Prepared by: John Potts, Executive Officer, Countywide Planning & Development, (213) 928-3397
Holly Rockwell, SEO - Real Estate, Transit Oriented Communities and Transportation Demand, (213) 922-5585
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: James de la Loza, Chief Planning Officer, (213) 922-2920
