The city’s plan to put the unfinished Target project in Hollywood back on track moved ahead on Wednesday after the city council approved a plan in which Target will pay a $1.2 million in-lieu fee for employee child care.

The issue regarding how Target would satisfy the city’s requirement to provide childcare was one of the final steps for the project to receive approval to resume construction. However, the project still must clear a remaining hurdle in court before construction can begin again on the partially completed store at Sunset Boulevard and Western Avenue.

The Los Angeles Superior Court must rule on a lawsuit filed by the La Mirada Avenue Neighborhood Association, which contends the city violated zoning laws in approving the project because it exceeded allowable height limits. A court hearing on the matter is expected to occur soon.

The Los Angeles Superior Court previously ruled in favor of the neighborhood association and construction was stopped in 2014. Target appealed the ruling to an appellate court, and the city altered zoning regulations at the site to allow for a taller building. The La Mirada Avenue Neighborhood Association filed a second lawsuit against the revised zoning plan last year, and the appellate court sent the matter back to the superior court for consideration.

The Target store in Hollywood remains unfinished pending a court ruling on a lawsuit against the project.
(photo by Edwin Folven)

Los Angeles City Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, 13th District, supports completion of the Target project. He helped broker a solution so the company fulfills the child care requirement.

The city has a surplus property at 1816 N. Wilton Place that was going to be auctioned. The $1.2 million from Target will be used to turn the property – a vacant house – into a child care facility. The site, which is approximately six to seven blocks from the unfinished Target store, will also have space for one unit of affordable housing.

The city is seeking applicants to run the child care facility and is awaiting bids and cost estimates to determine whether the $1.2 million will be used to convert the building into a child care center, for operational costs or both. The city council voted on Wednesday to accept the in-lieu fee, but Target will not be required to pay until after the court resolves the lawsuit and permits are issued.

“We need to come up with creative solutions to help us build healthy, sustainable communities while preserving the unique character in our neighborhoods,” O’Farrell said. “I’m excited about the possibilities here, and I am putting this call out to our local networks for qualified applicants to get in touch with the city regarding this space.”

The full city council’s decision on the child care requirements came after the proposal was approved by the council’s Arts, Parks and Los Angeles River Committee on Monday. The Board of Recreation and Parks Commissioners also approved the plan.

La Mirada Avenue Neighborhood Association member Doug Haines said he still stands behind the lawsuit filed against the project. He contends the city violated its zoning regulations when it originally approved the Target project and then illegally changed the rules to allow the project, which he called spot zoning. Haines also questioned whether the $1.2 million in-lieu fee from Target will be sufficient to cover the costs of child care.

Target applauded the city council’s decision on the in-lieu fee. The company hopes to begin construction again as soon as possible.

“Target is pleased with the recent decision from the L.A. City Council as part of the development of our Sunset Boulevard store,” said Target spokeswoman Kristy Welker. “We will continue to work closely with city officials and the community as we work toward opening the new store.”