3.0 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING Section 15125 of the State CEQA Guidelines requires that an EIR include a description of the existing
environment. This chapter provides a general overview of the environmental setting for the Project,
however, detailed information on existing conditions is provided for each environmental topic studied in
Chapter 4, Environmental Impact Analysis. This chapter also provides an overview of cumulative projects
thatareconsideredaspartofthefutureconditionsinevaluatingcumulativeimpacts.
A. OVERVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING 1. On‐Site Conditions The 2.7‐acre Project Site is located at 1020 S. Figueroa Street in the South Park district of Downtown Los
Angeles.TheProjectSiteiscurrentlydevelopedwiththenine‐story,178‐roomLuxeCityCenterHotel(Luxe
Hotel)andsurroundingsurfaceparkinglots.TheProjectSiteisboundedbyS.FigueroaStreettothewest,S.
FlowerStreettotheeast,OlympicBoulevardtothenorth,and11thStreettothesouth.
TheProjectSiteisservedbyanetworkofregionaltransportationfacilitiesthatprovideaccesstothegreater
metropolitanarea.TheProjectSiteislocatedapproximately0.2milesnorthofthePicoStationoperatedby
theLosAngelesCountyMetropolitanTransportationAuthority(Metro),whichservestheBlueLineandthe
Expo Line. The Project Site is also located approximately 0.4 miles south of the 7th Street/Metro Center
StationwhichprovidesrailservicetotheBlue,Expo,Red,andPurpleLines.TheProjectSiteisalsoservedby
multiple bus and shuttle lines along S. Figueroa Street, S. Flower Street, Grand Avenue, W. Olympic
Boulevard,andPicoBoulevard.
RegionalaccesstotheProjectSiteisprovidedfromthePasadena/HarborFreeway(I‐110/SR110),located
approximately0.3milestothewest;theSantaMonicaFreeway(I‐10)locatedapproximately0.5milestothe
south;and,theHollywoodFreeway(US‐101),locatedapproximately1.5milestothenorth.Vehicleaccessto
theProjectSiteisprovidedoffofS.FigueroaStreet,W.OlympicBoulevard,11thStreet,andS.FlowerStreet.
2. Surrounding Uses TheProjectSiteislocatedinaregionalcenterwhichservesasacommercialcenterforLosAngelesandthe
surrounding communities, and as an entertainment center of regional importance that is a popular
destination for visitors, local workers and area residents. The Project area is characterized by a mix of
entertainment,commercial,restaurant,bar,office,andresidentialuses.AdjacenttotheProjectSiteandto
thewestacrossS.FigueroaStreetisLALIVE,anentertainment,hotel,andresidentialcomplex.Furtherto
thesouthwestistheStaplesCenterArena,amultipurposesports,concert,andspecialeventvenue,andthe
LosAngelesConventionCenter,whichregularlyfeaturesconventions,tradeshows,andexhibitions.Tothe
north of the Project Site across W. Olympic Boulevard are several high‐rise mixed‐use residential and
commercial buildings. To the immediate east of the Project Site fronting W. Olympic Boulevard is the 11‐
storyPetroleumBuilding,adesignatedCityCultural‐HistoricMonument,whichincludesofficeaboveground
levelcommercialuses.AlsoimmediatelyeastoftheProjectfrontingonS.FlowerStreetisasurfaceparking
lot and the one‐story El Cholo restaurant, with mid‐and high‐rise multi‐family residential and mixed use
buildings further east across S. Flower Street. To the south of the Project Site across 11th Street, is
CityofLosAngeles
SCHNo.2016021013
1020S.FigueroaStreetProject
3‐1
3.0 General Description of Environmental Setting September 2016 Oceanwide Plaza, a high rise mixed‐use residential, commercial, and hotel project that is currently under
construction.Furthersouthisanothermixed‐useprojectunderconstruction,knownasCirca,theMetroPico
Station,andnewandrecentlyrehabilitatedhigh‐riseresidentialandmixed‐usebuildings.
3. Existing Conditions For more detailed descriptions of existing conditions that are specific to each of the environmental issues
analyzedinthisDraftEIR,seeChapter4,Sections4.Athrough4.K.
B. CUMULATIVE PROJECTS The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires that the analysis of potential project impacts
include cumulative impacts. CEQA defines cumulative impacts as “two or more individual effects which,
whenconsideredtogetherareconsiderableorwhichcompoundorincreaseotherenvironmentalimpacts.”1
The analysisofcumulativeimpactsneednotbe asin‐depthaswhatisperformedrelativetotheproposed
project,butinsteadisto“beguidedbythestandardsofpracticalityandreasonableness.”2
Cumulative impacts are anticipated impacts of the proposed project along with reasonably foreseeable
growth.Reasonablyforeseeablegrowthmaybebasedoneither:3

A list of past, present, and reasonably anticipated future projects producing related or cumulative
impacts;or

A summary of projections contained in an adopted general plan or related planning document
designedtoevaluateregionalorareawideconditions.
For the purposes of the cumulative impacts analysis for the Project, the City has opted to use the list
approachforevaluatingcumulativeeffects.ThelistofcumulativeprojectswasprovidedbytheCityofLos
AngelesDepartmentofTransportation(LADOT)andrecentstudiesofotherprojectsinthearea.Thelistof
115 identified cumulative projects is provided in Table 3‐1, Cumulative Projects List, with the locations of
eachofthecumulativeprojectslistedinFigure3‐1,CumulativeProjectsMap.Althoughtheprojectslistedin
Table3‐1serveastheprimarybasesforevaluationofcumulativeimpacts,thecumulativeprojectsmayvary
among certain environmental issues, as the geographic contexts of certain issue areas may vary. The
cumulative analyses for each environmental issue, including a discussion regarding the identification of
relevant cumulative projects are provided in their applicable sections in Chapter 4, Environmental Impact
Analysis,ofthisDraftEIR.
1
StateCEQAGuidelines,14CaliforniaCodeofRegulations,Section15355,etseq.
2
Ibid.,Section15355.
3
Ibid.,Section15130(b)(1).
CityofLosAngeles
SCHNo.2016021013
1020S.FigueroaStreetProject
3‐2
PCR
CumulaƟve Projects Map
FIGURE
1020 S. Figueroa Street Project
3-1
Source: Gibson TransportaƟon ConsulƟng, Inc., 2016.
3.0 General Description of Environmental Setting September 2016 Thispageintentionallyblank.
CityofLosAngeles
SCHNo.2016021013
1020S.FigueroaStreetProject
3‐4
3.0 General Description of Environmental Setting May 2016 Table 3‐1 Cumulative Projects List No PROJECT NAME ADDRESS 1. LATradeTechCollegeFiveYearMasterPlan
400W.WashingtonBoulevard
2. AvaLittleTokyo
200S.LosAngelesStreet
DESCRIPTION/LAND USE School
1027W.WilshireBoulevard
570 du
Apartments
280 du
Condominiums
Retail
4. VibianaLofts(Mixed‐Use)
225S.LosAngelesStreet
Condominiums
Retail
5. NortheastTower(Mixed‐Use)
215W.9thStreet
Condominiums
Retail
6. AmaconProject
1133S.HopeStreet
Apartments
Retail
7. Mixed‐Use
745S.SpringStreet
Condominiums
Retail
8. 5th&Olive(ParkFifthProject)
437W.5thStreet
Apartments
Restaurant
9. 11th&HillProject
1115S.HillStreet
Condominiums
Restaurant
10. StanfordRegencyPlaza
CityofLosAngeles
SCHNo.2016021013
810E.PicoBoulevard
21,300 students
Condominiums
Retail
3. TentenWilshireExpansion
SIZE Retail
50,000 sf
402 du
4,728 sf
300 du
3,400 sf
210 du
9,000 sf
208 du
5,029 sf
247 du
10,675 sf
600 du
13,872 sf
172 du
6,850 sf
181,620 sf
1020S.FigueroaStreetProject
3‐5
3.0 General Description of Environmental Setting September 2016 Table 3‐1 (Continued) Cumulative Projects List No PROJECT NAME 11. Bixel&LucasProject
ADDRESS 1102W.6thStreet
DESCRIPTION/LAND USE SIZE Apartments
648 du
Retail
12. ApartmentProject
(Figueroa&AdamsStudentHousing)
13. 8th/Hope/GrandProject
2455S.FigueroaStreet
609W.8thStreet
14. Condominiums
1340S.OliveStreet
15. ApexPhII
700W.9thStreet
Apartments
145 du
Condominiums
225 du
Hotel
200
Retail
30,000
sf
Restaurant
32,000
sf
1900S.Broadway
150 du
Residential
689 du
CityofLosAngeles
SCHNo.2016021013
1130W.WilshireBoulevard
22,963 sf
Condominiums
900 du
Apartments
550 du
Hotel
17. Office
rooms
Condominiums
Retail
16. TheReef‐LAMart/SOLAVillage
39,996 sf
210 rooms
Retail
143,100 sf
Office
180,000 sf
Museum
17,600 sf
Gym
8,000 sf
Office
88,224 sf
1020S.FigueroaStreetProject
3‐6
September 2016 3.0 General Description of Environmental Setting Table 3‐1 (Continued) Cumulative Projects List No PROJECT NAME 18. Mixed‐Use(GlassTowerProject)
19. EmbassyTower
ADDRESS 1050S.GrandAvenue
848S.GrandAvenue
DESCRIPTION/LAND USE SIZE Condominiums
151 du
Retail
3,472 sf
Restaurant
2,200 sf
Condominiums
Retail
20. ZenMixed‐UseProject(KawadaTower)
250S.HillStreet
Condominiums
Retail
21. OakVillageResidencesProject
902W.WashingtonBoulevard
Condominiums
22. LaborersLocal300Headquarters
2005W.PicoBoulevard
Office
23. WilshireGrandProject
900W.WilshireBoulevard
Hotel
Residential
Office
Retail/Restaurant
24. WashingtonBoulevardOpportunity‐MercyHousing
220E.WashingtonBoulevard
Apartments
12,000 sf
142 du
30,300 sf
560 rooms
100 du
1,500,000 sf
275,000 sf
357 du
Restaurant
7,750 sf
9,955 sf
ChildCare
26. Mixed‐Use
2100S.FigueroaStreet
Condominiums
Retail
330 du
7,750 sf
2716S.SeveranceStreet
SCHNo.2016021013
38,500 sf
Retail
25. USCChildren'sCreativeLearningCenter
CityofLosAngeles
420 du
291 du
7,134 sf
1020S.FigueroaStreetProject
3‐7
3.0 General Description of Environmental Setting September 2016 Table 3‐1 (Continued) Cumulative Projects List No PROJECT NAME 27. Clinicat7th&Wall
28. MedallionPhase2
ADDRESS 649S.WallStreet
300S.MainStreet
DESCRIPTION/LAND USE Office
66 emp
AssistedLiving
55 beds
Apartments
471 du
Restaurant
27,780 sf
Retail
5,190 sf
29. Residential&PublicParkningProject
619S.WestlakeAvenue
Apartments
52 du
30. Mixed‐Use
1435W.3rdStreet
Apartments
122 du
Retail
31. GrandAvenue(ParcelM‐2Rev)
32. MetropolisMixed‐Use
237S.GrandAvenue
899S.FranciscoStreet
Apartments
1500S.FigueroaStreet
Office
681,000 sf
Condominiums
Apartments
Retail
34. Olympic&HillMixed‐UseProject
CityofLosAngeles
SCHNo.2016021013
301W.OlympicBoulevard
412 du
449,000 sf
Retail
33. 1500S.Figueroa–Mixed‐Use
5,000 sf
Retail
Hotel
SIZE Apartments
1,560 du
350 rooms
74,905 sf
190 du
12,432 sf
300 du
Retail
14,500 sf
Restaurant
8,500 sf
1020S.FigueroaStreetProject
3‐8
September 2016 3.0 General Description of Environmental Setting Table 3‐1 (Continued) Cumulative Projects List No PROJECT NAME 35. LACivicCenterOffice
ADDRESS 150N.LosAngelesStreet
DESCRIPTION/LAND USE Office
712,500 sf
Retail
35,000 sf
ChildCare
2,500 sf
36. Apartments
1027S.OliveStreet
Apartments
100 du
37. SPR‐Mxed‐Use(Onyx)
1306S.HopeStreet
Apartments
419 du
Retail
38. Mixed‐Use
39. G12Mixed‐Use
928S.Broadway
1200S.GrandAvenue
40. Mixed‐Use(ValenciaProject)
41. Mixed‐Use
CityofLosAngeles
SCHNo.2016021013
1501W.WilshireBoulevard
534S.MainStreet
42,400 sf
Apartments
670 du
Condominiums
17 du
Retail
58,800 sf
Office
34,824 sf
Apartments
Retail
SIZE Apartments
640 du
45,000 sf
218 du
Retail
2,400 sf
Restaurant
4,450 sf
Apartments
160 du
Retail
18,000 sf
Restaurant
3,500 sf
FastFood
3,500 sf
1020S.FigueroaStreetProject
3‐9
3.0 General Description of Environmental Setting September 2016 Table 3‐1 (Continued) Cumulative Projects List No PROJECT NAME 42. Mixed‐Use
ADDRESS 840S.OliveStreet
DESCRIPTION/LAND USE SIZE Condominiums
303 du
Restaurant
43. Mixed‐Use
710S.GrandAvenue
44. Retail/Restaurant
201S.Broadway
45. TheCityMarket(Mixed‐Use)
1057S.SanPedroStreet
Apartments
1700W.OlympicBoulevard
47. Mixed‐Use
233W.WashingtonBoulevard
27,000 sf
Restaurant
5,000 sf
Retail/Restaurant
27,765 sf
Apartments
877 du
Condominiums
68 du
CityofLosAngeles
SCHNo.2016021013
400S.Broadway
210 rooms
Office
294,641 sf
Retail
224,862 sf
Cinema
744 seats
Hotel
160 rooms
Apartments
Retail
48. Mixed‐Use
700 du
Retail
Hotel
46. 1700W.OlympicHotel
9,680 sf
Apartments
160 du
24,000 sf
450 du
Retail
10,000 sf
Bar
5,000 sf
1020S.FigueroaStreetProject
3‐10
September 2016 3.0 General Description of Environmental Setting Table 3‐1 (Continued) Cumulative Projects List No PROJECT NAME 49. 1001S.OliveStreet
ADDRESS 1001S.OliveStreet
DESCRIPTION/LAND USE SIZE Apartments
225 du
Restaurant
50. Mixed‐Use
1000S.GrandAvenue
Apartments
Restaurant
51. HillStreetMixed‐Use
920S.HillStreet
Apartments
Retail
52. BroadwayMixed‐Use
955S.Broadway
Apartments
Retail
53. Mixed‐Use
801S.OliveStreet
Apartments
Restaurant
54. Flower(1212)Mixed‐Use
55. Olympic&OliveMixed‐UseProject
1212W.FlowerStreet
960S.OliveStreet
Condominiums
820S.OliveStreet
601S.MainStreet
SCHNo.2016021013
239 du
5,400 sf
201 du
6,000 sf
331 du
10,000 sf
730 du
Office
70,465 sf
Apartments
Apartments
Apartments
Retail
CityofLosAngeles
12,000 sf
10,500 sf
Retail
57. Mixed‐Use
274 du
Retail
Restaurant
56. Mixed‐Use
5,000 sf
263 du
14,500 sf
589 stu
4,500 sf
452 du
25,000 sf
1020S.FigueroaStreetProject
3‐11
3.0 General Description of Environmental Setting September 2016 Table 3‐1 (Continued) Cumulative Projects List No PROJECT NAME 58. 1230SouthOliveStreet
ADDRESS 1230S.OliveStreet
DESCRIPTION/LAND USE SIZE Apartments
362 du
Retail
59. 1120SouthGrandAvenue&1155SouthOliveStreet
60. 2005‐CEN‐2347WilshireCoronado
61. DaVinciApartments
1120S.GrandAvenue&1155S.
OliveStreet
2525WilshireBoulevard
327N.FremontAvenue
Apartments
Retail
Condominiums
820S.HooverStreet
850S.HillStreet
64. Beverly&LucasProject
1430W.BeverlyBoulevard
65. PCSD‐PacificCharterK‐5ElementarySchool
(Relocation)
66. Mixed‐Use
1700W.PicoBoulevard
1329W.7thStreet
CityofLosAngeles
SCHNo.2016021013
1552W.RockwoodStreet
160 du
Apartments
1,200 du
Condominiums
Apartments
25,000 sf
32 du
4,500 sf
300 du
Retail
3,500 sf
Restaurant
3,500 sf
Apartments
144 du
School
450 seats
Apartments
94 du
Retail
67. CharterHighSchool
20,690 sf
7,500 sf
Retail
63. AlexanSouthBroadway
666 du
Retail
Retail
62. Mixed‐Use
4,000 sf
School
2,000 sf
600 students
1020S.FigueroaStreetProject
3‐12
September 2016 3.0 General Description of Environmental Setting Table 3‐1 (Continued) Cumulative Projects List No PROJECT NAME 68. Mixed‐Use(HeraldExaminer)
ADDRESS 1111S.Broadway
DESCRIPTION/LAND USE SIZE Apartments
214 du
Retail
69. Mixed‐Use
1148S.Broadway
Apartments
Retail
70. Apartments
1247S.GrandAvenue
Apartments
Retail
71. 1400SFigueroaStResidential
1400S.FigueroaStreet
72. LegalAidFoundationofLA
1550W.8thStreet
73. VarietyArts(Mixed‐Use)
940S.FigueroaStreet
Apartments
94 du
2,500 sf
118 du
5,125 sf'
106 du
Retail
4,834 sf
Office
33,957 sf
Theatre
1,942 seats
Restaurant
10,056 sf
Bar
5,119 sf
7,149 sf
74. Restaurant
1036S.GrandAvenue
Restaurant
75. Mixed‐Use
1335W.1stStreet
Apartments
Retail
101 du
3,514 sf'
76. Residential
459S.HartfordAvenue
Apartments
94 du
77. Residential
401N.BoylstonStreet
Apartments
101 du
78. Mixed‐Use
1150W.WilshireBoulevard
Apartments
80 du
Restaurant
CityofLosAngeles
SCHNo.2016021013
10,000 sf
4,589 sf
1020S.FigueroaStreetProject
3‐13
3.0 General Description of Environmental Setting September 2016 Table 3‐1 (Continued) Cumulative Projects List No PROJECT NAME 79. Mixed‐Use
ADDRESS 737S.SpringStreet
DESCRIPTION/LAND USE SIZE Apartments
320 du
Pharmacy/Drugstore
80. Apartments
1218W.IngrahamStreet
81. Condominiums
742S.HartfordAvenue
82. Mixed‐Use
732S.SpringStreet
Apartments
80 du
Condominiums
58 du
Apartments
400 du
DrugStore
83. Mixed‐Use
84. Restaurant&Bar
85. Mixed‐Use
340S.HillStreet
1728W.7thStreet
1145W.7thStreet
15,000 sf
Apartments
428 du
Restaurant
6,700 sf'
Restaurant
9,600 sf
Bar
3,500 sf
Condominiums
126 du
Apartments
100 du
Retail
7,200 sf'
86. Residential
1011S.ParkViewStreet
Apartments
108 du
87. Apartments
422S.LakeStreet
Apartments
80 du
88. SapphireMixed‐Use
1111W.6thStreet
Apartments
362 du
CityofLosAngeles
SCHNo.2016021013
25,000 sf
Retail
18,959 sf
QualityRestaurant
3,504 sf
Hi‐Turnover
Restaurant
1,476 sf
1020S.FigueroaStreetProject
3‐14
September 2016 3.0 General Description of Environmental Setting Table 3‐1 (Continued) Cumulative Projects List No PROJECT NAME ADDRESS DESCRIPTION/LAND USE CoffeeShop
1,866 sf
DrugStore
16,572 sf
89. Pharmacy/DrugStore
1302W.WashingtonBoulevard
90. CharterHighSchool
1929W.PicoBoulevard
91. Apartments
118S.Astronaute.s.OnizukaStreet
Apartments
77 du
92. 940SHillMixed‐Use
940S.HillStreet
Apartments
240 du
School
Retail
480 students
14,000 sf
93. Apartments
1255E.EldenAvenue
Apartments
94. ConventionCenterModernizationandFarmersField
NWCornerofFigueroaStreet&
VeniceBoulevard
1101S.FlowerStreet
EventCenter
72,000 seats
Condominiums
504 du
Hotel
183 rms
95. OceanwidePlaza(FigCentral)
Retail
96. Mixed‐Use
2405W.8thStreet
Apartments
Retail
97. Circa(1200FigueroaProject)
1200S.FigueroaStreet
Condominiums
Retail
98. 813E5thSt
813E5thStreet
AffordableMicrolofts
Retail
99. 1201SGrandAve
100. HoxtonHotel
CityofLosAngeles
SCHNo.2016021013
SIZE 1201SGrandAvenue
1060SBroadway
Condominiums
Hotel
93 du
166,000 sf
144 du
4,406 sf
648 du
48,000 sf
160 du
10,000 sf
126 du
‐‐
‐‐
1020S.FigueroaStreetProject
3‐15
3.0 General Description of Environmental Setting September 2016 Table 3‐1 (Continued) Cumulative Projects List No PROJECT NAME ADDRESS DESCRIPTION/LAND USE SIZE 101. LizardInn
633SSpringStreet
Hotel
176 rms
102. 888SHopeSt
888SHopeStreet
Apartments
526 du
103. 950SBroadway
950SBroadway
Apartments
30 du
Retail
104. ForestCity/SouthPark(1)
105. SouthPark
106. TitleInsuranceBuilding
1100SHillStreet&1200S
Broadway
Apartments
SECornerof9thSt&Figueroa
Street
4thSt&SpringStreet
Apartments
341 du
Apartments
215 du
Retail
Retail
107. WakabaLA
232E2ndStreet
Apartments
Retail
108. BroadwayTradeCenter
109. TheGrand
110. 537SBroadwday
CityofLosAngeles
SCHNo.2016021013
7,500 sf
801SBroadway
SECornerofGrandAvenue&1st
Street
537SBroadway
Hotel
391 du
15,000 sf
60,000 sf
240 du
16,000 sf
153 rms
Office
‐‐
‐‐
Restaurant
‐‐
‐‐
Apartments
450 du
Hotel
300 rms
Retail/Restaurant
‐‐
‐‐
CreativeOffice
45,000 sf
1020S.FigueroaStreetProject
3‐16
September 2016 3.0 General Description of Environmental Setting Table 3‐1 (Continued) Cumulative Projects List No PROJECT NAME ADDRESS DESCRIPTION/LAND USE SIZE 111. ClarkHotel
426SHillStreet
Hotel
348 rms
112. FreehandHotel
416W8thStreet
Hotel
200 rms
113. GianniniPlace
649SOliveStreet
Hotel
250 rms
114.. MarriottExpansion
900WOlympicBoulevard
Hotel
755 rms
115. ProperHotel
1106SBroadway
Hotel
148 rms
116. OlympicTower
811W.OlympicBoulevard
Apartments
374
du
Hotel
373
rms
Office
33,498
sf
Retail/Restaurant
65,074
sf
du – dwelling units sf – square feet rms – rooms emp – employees Source: City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation and Gibson Transportation Consulting, Inc., 2016. Gibson Transportation Consulting, Inc., 2016.
CityofLosAngeles
SCHNo.2016021013
1020S.FigueroaStreetProject
3‐17