Development of the Manchester Avenue Site

The City of Los Angeles Community Investment Department is requesting proposals for the commercial or mixed-use development of the Manchester Avenue Site, a 19,519-square-foot parcel comprising three vacant lots in South Los Angeles (Council District 8), with proposals due October 1, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. The City has established Business Inclusion Program participation goals of 18% MBE, 4% WBE, 25% SBE, 8% EBE, and 3% DVBE, with mandatory BIP outreach completion by September 16, 2026.

The development team will work through an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement (ENA) that may lead to a Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA). The property is zoned C2-1-CPIO with a 1.5:1 FAR limit and Height District 1 designation and qualifies for exemption from vehicular parking minimums under California Government Code Section 65863.2. Proposals must address site design, build-out, and long-term property management. The City prefers a ground lease of up to 55 years at fair market value with extension options, though sale or lease-to-own structures are permissible. California prevailing wage requirements apply to all construction and permanent jobs created.

The City has stated a strong preference that projects require no financial assistance from Los Angeles, though detailed financing descriptions are mandatory. Proposals must comply with the Surplus Land Act and Standard Provisions for City Contracts, including equal benefits, first source hiring, and slavery and border wall disclosure ordinances.

Evaluation is weighted as follows: Development Team Qualifications (40 points), Financial Capacity (30 points), Proposed Development and Design (20 points), and Interview performance (10 points). An optional virtual pre-proposal conference is scheduled for September 1, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. via Google Meet. Questions are due September 4, 2026, with responses posted by September 10, 2026. Development team interviews are anticipated the week of October 12, 2026, with final selection in November 2026. The RFP is limited to 40 pages and requires acknowledgment of all addenda.