Future of transit-oriented development on display as ground is broken on major phase of El Monte Gateway

EL MONTE, Calif. –The largest transit-oriented development (TOD) West of the Mississippi is taking shape at the heart of Southern California’s busiest commuter and commercial transportation corridor, helping transform the City of El Monte into a national model for smart growth and regional planning.

Ground was broken this past week on the latest phase of the long-awaited El Monte Gateway project, a state-of-the-art mixed use development comprising housing and commercial retail space linked to one of the region’s busiest public transportation centers. On an average day, the El Monte Station serves 22,000 Metro, Foothill Transit, El Monte Transit and Greyhound passengers transiting to work, leisure, and business destinations.

The development is adjacent to Interstate 10 – one of the busiest stretches of highway in the U.S. and a vital connector to employment centers throughout the Southern California region.

“The Gateway project is transformational in so many ways – as an economic catalyst for the region and as a model for addressing the housing, mobility and quality of life challenges communities everywhere now face,” said James Acevedo, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Partner for Grapevine Development LLC, the project’s developer. “El Monte is a community with tremendous potential as a center of excellence and, in my view, the realization of this project will changer the dynamics in a meaningful, positive way.”

The Feb. 16 groundbreaking on Gateway Parcel 4 represents a significant milestone for the project, comprising 25,000 square feet of retail space, 208 market-rate apartments and two levels of parking within a four-story building located a short walk from the El Monte Station. The structure itself is expected to qualify for LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council – representing the highest standards in the industry for energy and environmental efficiency.

This arrives as recognition of the importance of transit-oriented developments to the future of fast-paced, densely populated metropolitan areas such as Greater Los Angeles. The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) has made TODs a key element of its Sustainability Planning Grant Program, which helps communities develop transportation and land-use strategies that reduce congestion, improve air quality and accommodate rapid population growth.

In the case of the El Monte Gateway – the largest such project in Southern California – the connection between high-quality multifamily housing, retail space and transportation provides benefits and opportunities for the region as a whole, including:

• Housing affordability and availability. SCAG reports that average housing costs in Southern California have jumped 58 percent in the past 20 years – nearly three times the national average – as supplies have failed to keep up with demand. Units at El Monte Gateway will be priced to meet the region’s workforce housing needs.
• Congestion relief. The Gateway’s adjacency to the El Monte Station will promote greater use of public transportation along the 10 Freeway corridor.
• Job opportunities. The variety of transit options will connect gateway residents to employment centers throughout the region.

“We’re honored to work with the City of El Monte the California Department of Housing and

Community Development on this important public-private partnership that will have a lasting, positive impact on the community and region for decades to come,” Acevedo said.

Project financing for the El Monte Gateway project is being provided by the ROMSPEN Mortgage Investment Fund. Architectural work was done by SVA Architects.