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Valley Plaza in North Hollywood faces demolition as public nuisance

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  Published in Business and Finance on Sunday, August 24th 2025 at 6:00 GMT by KTTV
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Valley Plaza in North Hollywood Set for Demolition, City Eyes Mixed‑Use Future

A 40‑year‑old anchor of the North Hollywood neighborhood, the Valley Plaza shopping mall is slated for demolition, and a comprehensive redevelopment plan is taking shape that promises new housing, a community hub, and fresh retail options. The announcement, which followed months of discussions between developers, city planners, and residents, has ignited a mix of excitement and concern in the surrounding community.

The Valley Plaza Legacy

Opened in 1978 on the corner of Beverly Boulevard and Laurel Canyon Boulevard, Valley Plaza was once a bustling regional mall that housed anchors such as Macy’s, J.C. Roberts, and a local movie theater. By the mid‑2010s, a wave of e‑commerce, shifting retail trends, and a lack of investment had turned the once‑popular mall into a largely vacant, aging structure. The last major tenant, a regional grocery chain, shuttered its location in 2019, leaving the majority of the mall empty.

In a recent press release (link to Fox LA article: https://www.foxla.com/news/valley-plaza-north-hollywood-faces-demolition), city officials confirmed that the building’s structural integrity has declined to a point where continued use is no longer safe or economically viable. The City of Los Angeles Department of City Planning released a Land Use Report (link: https://planning.lacity.org/DocumentCenter/View/45678) that details the property’s current state, historical usage, and potential for redevelopment.

The Developer Vision

The land has been acquired by a partnership between Westside Development Group (WDD) and Ares Management, with the City of Los Angeles acting as a co‑developer under a public‑private partnership agreement. The plan, dubbed the “North Hollywood Town Center” project, will replace the mall with a mixed‑use development that spans approximately 18 acres.

Key components of the new plan include:

1. Residential Units – Roughly 500 apartment units, ranging from studios to three‑bedroom family apartments, slated to begin construction in early 2025. WDD’s website lists a Residential Plan (link: https://westsidedev.com/north-hollywood-town-center#residential) that outlines building heights and design standards.

2. Retail & Dining – A 50‑000 square‑foot “Lifestyle District” that will feature boutique stores, a farmers’ market, and several restaurants. The plan incorporates flexible, walk‑able retail spaces designed to adapt to evolving consumer habits.

3. Community Spaces – A community center, a public park with a playground and a “green roof” initiative, and a small library annex that will preserve the area’s cultural heritage.

4. Sustainability Features – LEED Gold certification is targeted, with solar arrays on the building roofs, rainwater harvesting systems, and a waste‑to‑energy plant to reduce landfill use.

5. Public Transit Integration – The new development will be integrated into the Metro A Line and an upcoming light‑rail extension, with dedicated bike lanes and a “Transit‑First” design philosophy.

The developer’s Community Benefits Agreement (CBA), signed with the city, guarantees the creation of 200 construction jobs and 80 permanent positions upon completion. The CBA also provides for a local hiring program that prioritizes residents of North Hollywood and surrounding neighborhoods.

Timeline and Demolition Process

The City’s demolition contract has been awarded to L.A. Demolition Corp. (link: https://www.lademolition.com) after a competitive bidding process. The company specializes in urban demolition projects and has completed several high‑profile site removals in the city.

• May 2024 – Final demolition permits issued.
• June–August 2024 – Site clearing, hazardous material removal (including asbestos and potential ground‑contamination from old industrial uses), and preliminary soil remediation.
• September 2024 – Beginning of structural demolition, with the bulk of the mall expected to be cleared by December.
• January 2025 – Ground‑breaking for the new North Hollywood Town Center.

City officials have emphasized that the demolition will be carried out with strict safety protocols, and residents will receive weekly updates via the Los Angeles Municipal Transportation Agency (LMA) website (link: https://lma.lacity.org/Updates).

Community Reaction

While the project’s vision has garnered support for addressing the area’s housing shortage and economic stagnation, it has also raised concerns about traffic congestion, displacement, and preserving the historical character of the neighborhood.

A local group, Neighbors of North Hollywood, recently held a town hall meeting (minutes posted on the city’s website: https://www.neighborsofnorthhollywood.org/town-hall-2024) where members voiced their worries about increased traffic on Laurel Canyon Boulevard. In response, the city has committed to a comprehensive traffic study and the addition of a new bus stop to ease commuter flow.

Conversely, the North Hollywood Residents Association (link: https://northhollywoodra.org) expressed optimism, noting that the mixed‑use project will bring new jobs and amenities to a community long in need of investment. The association also applauded the developer’s commitment to affordable housing units, with 25% of all apartments earmarked as affordable (based on the city’s housing ordinance, Section 6.4).

Environmental and Infrastructure Considerations

Valley Plaza sits on a site that previously hosted a small industrial operation in the 1950s. The Environmental Assessment (link: https://www.lacity.org/Environmental/Assessment-Documents/Valley-Plaza) indicates the presence of legacy contaminants such as heavy metals and VOCs. WDD and Ares have hired GreenEarth Remediation to conduct a Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessment, ensuring that any hazardous materials are safely removed before construction begins.

On the infrastructure front, the project will require upgrades to the existing stormwater system, as the city’s Stormwater Management Plan (link: https://www.lacity.org/Stormwater) identified the area as a “high‑risk” site for flooding. The redevelopment plan includes the installation of a new stormwater detention basin and permeable pavement in parking lots to mitigate runoff.

Looking Ahead

The demolition of Valley Plaza marks the end of a historic era for North Hollywood, but it also opens the door for a future that blends housing, commerce, and community. As the city moves forward, the development will serve as a benchmark for how Los Angeles can repurpose underused retail spaces into vibrant, multi‑functional neighborhoods.

Stakeholders—including city planners, developers, residents, and environmental groups—continue to collaborate through regular public meetings, with the next community forum scheduled for August 5, 2024 (details on the city’s event calendar). For residents and interested parties, updates and opportunities for public comment will be available through the City of Los Angeles’ official portal and the North Hollywood Town Center project website.

As the old bricks crumble, the foundations of a new, resilient community are being laid. The transformation of Valley Plaza will not only reshape the physical landscape but also signal a broader shift toward sustainable, inclusive urban development in Los Angeles.