Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Civic Center Lease topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Norwalk approves lease amendment to free parking spaces for 'The Walk' Civic Center project
Summary
The City Council approved a resolution to amend the long-term ground lease with Los Angeles County for the Norwalk Civic Center parking garage, relinquishing county rights to 150 spaces to support the Walk mixed-use project, extending the lease term and removing early termination rights.
The Norwalk City Council on a unanimous vote approved a resolution to amend the long-term ground lease between the City of Norwalk and the County of Los Angeles for the Norwalk Civic Center parking garage, freeing parking spaces to serve the Walk mixed‑use project.
City staff said the first amendment relinquishes the county’s exclusive rights to 100 parking spaces and its nonexclusive rights to 50 additional spaces so those stalls can serve users of the Walk development. The amendment also extends the lease term to May 8, 2094, eliminates early termination rights by the county and city, and makes other administrative changes to the original 1995 lease.
Staff told council the amendment is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under CEQA Guideline section 15301 (Class 1, existing facilities). The city will receive sales tax, property tax and percentage rent payments from the Walk project; monthly payments and project operating expenses for the relinquished spaces were addressed in the amendment and, according to staff, will be the responsibility of PrimeStore as specified in the agreement. Staff recommended adoption and the council voted aye on the resolution.
Alex Hamilton presented the staff report outlining the existing parking rights, the number of spaces affected and the anticipated revenue streams tied to the Walk project. No members of the public spoke on the item. Council members voting aye were Rick Ramirez, Anna Valencia, Vice Mayor Jennifer Perez and Mayor Tony Ayala.
The approval clears a contract-level hurdle for the Walk mixed‑use development to use Civic Center parking in phased construction. Staff said the amendment aligns county and city parking rights with how the Walk project will provide required spaces under the Norwalk Entertainment District Civic Center Specific Plan.
Council directed staff to execute the amendment in a form approved by the city attorney and to return any ancillary documents as needed. The lease amendment will be recorded and implemented per the terms approved by council.
