The project's next phase will mark a significant step to bring affordable housing, health and wellness services, green space, and more for Eastside communities.
 LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a motion by Chair Pro Tem and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis to advance the redevelopment of the historic General Hospital and its surrounding campus. The project enters a critical new stage: the project planning phase.
This phase marks a significant step toward realizing a vision for a “Healthy Village” — a community-driven development designed to bring affordable housing, health and wellness services, open green space, and neighborhood-serving amenities such as a grocery store to the Eastside region.
“This historic project is about preserving our past while investing in our future,” said Chair Pro Tem Solis. “We are creating a community space that prioritizes housing, health care, sustainability and dignity for our most vulnerable. The General Hospital has long been a symbol of healing, and through this effort, it will continue to serve as a beacon of hope and opportunity.”
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Centennial Partners, a development team composed of Primestor and Bayspring Development, was selected in 2023 through a community-informed request for proposals process. The team is now authorized to begin detailed surveying and analysis related to land use, environmental conditions, architecture and engineering, sustainability, transportation and parking.
Since their selection, Centennial Partners has worked closely with the Health Innovation Community Partnership (HICP), a grassroots advisory group founded in 2017 by Chair Pro Tem Solis to ensure the redevelopment reflects community priorities.
“This moment has been years in the making,” said Rosa Soto, Executive Director of The Wellness Center at General Hospital. “From the beginning, we’ve brought community voices to the table—not just to be heard, but to shape what this space becomes. The Healthy Village is a vision born from our community members’ lived experiences, and this next phase is a powerful step toward making that vision real: housing that’s affordable, care that’s accessible, and a place where our families can truly thrive.”
 The planning phase is intended to reach preliminary agreement between the County and Centennial Partners, with meaningful input from community members, on key components of the project. This includes a proposed project description, initial architectural design and scale, an implementation timeline, and development and economic terms. A formal Community Benefits Agreement will also be part of this phase.
Once the planning phase concludes, Centennial Partners will assume responsibility for its project costs as well as those of the county. That next stage, the entitlement and predevelopment phase, includes negotiating agreements and completing the environmental review process. The motion approved today allocates $3.3 million in First District discretionary funds to support technical analysis and community-based planning during this stage.
The original General Hospital building, located in Boyle Heights, opened in 1934 and served the region for more than 75 years before it was vacated following damage from the 1994 Northridge earthquake. The site sits adjacent to the Los Angeles General Medical Center (LA Gen), a modern teaching hospital and Level 1 trauma center.
Preliminary studies support the adaptive reuse of the hospital’s historic Art Deco structure. Through today’s motion, the Department of Economic Opportunity has been directed to apply for National Register of Historic Places designation, which could unlock preservation funding and tax credits to support rehabilitation.
"We’re honored to join the Board and community members today to mark an important milestone in our shared reimagining of the historic General Hospital and campus,” said Kelly LoBianco, Director of Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity. “Today’s motion – led by Chair Pro Tem Solis with close collaboration with Centennial Partners, and key stakeholders – will help guide the development of a comprehensive master plan by year’s end. We’re committed to continuing this momentum and delivering a revitalized space that supports affordable housing, small businesses, workers, and vibrant and healthy living.”
The larger LA General campus has undergone an expansion with the addition of several new behavioral health facilities, including a mental health urgent care center, a residential withdrawal management facility and a 128-bed mental health rehabilitation center. Together, these projects are part of the County’s broader Restorative Care Village model, which integrates physical and behavioral health services in one location.
The motion also calls for exploration of a potential Climate Resilience District to support the long-term financial and environmental sustainability of the project. The Department of Economic Opportunity, working in partnership with other County departments and community stakeholders, will lead an ongoing engagement process to shape the Community Benefits Agreement. A report is expected to return to the Board of Supervisors by the end of 2025.
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