The community may have questions about The Fig. Below, find answers to frequently asked questions. If you have a question that isn't answered below, email or call us and we will provide an answer as quickly as possible.
1. What is The Fig?
The Fig is a mixed-use project located on a 4.4-acre site adjacent to Exposition Park and close to USC’s University Park Campus at the 3900 block of Figueroa. The Fig’s proximity to downtown Los Angeles enables the project to capitalize on and expand economic growth, residential and student housing and retail opportunities for the community.
2. Where is The Fig located?
The Fig is located at the 3900 block of Figueroa Avenue, adjacent to Exposition Park and close to USC’s University Park Campus.
3. What is included in the project?
The project includes 104 market-rate multi-family residential units, 82 affordable units (representing 20 percent of the project total), a 298-room hotel, 222 student housing units and more than 75,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space (restaurant, retail and creative office).
4. What approvals does the project need from the City of Los Angeles?
The project requires the City Council’s approval of a zone change to increase the maximum floor area and height that can be built at the site, which is specifically permitted by the Southeast Los Angeles Community Plan for projects that contain student housing or affordable housing units. The project also requires approval of a conditional use permit for alcohol sales, a subdivision map to create separate airspace lots for the project’s different components, and site plan review.
In addition, the City of Los Angeles will prepare an Environmental Impact Report for the project, which will analyze the project’s potential environmental impacts and identify required mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate such impacts. The EIR will discuss the project in considerable detail, and outline its benefits and impacts to the neighborhood and surrounding community. The EIR process is an open and transparent process, and the public is invited to review the document during its 45-day public review period, and provide comments to the City.
During both the EIR public comment period and the required public hearing process to consider the project’s zone change and other land use approvals, the public will have ample opportunity to review the proposed project and offer comments to the City.
5. What is the project's review and approval timeline?
The City issued a notice of preparation for the project’s EIR in July 2016, and a scoping meeting was held on August 10, 2016. After the scoping meeting, a draft EIR was be prepared, and released for a 45-day public comment period in October 2017. All comments received on the draft EIR will be reviewed and responded to, and these responses will become part of the final EIR, to be completed in the middle of 2018.
After the final EIR is completed, four public hearings will be held regarding the project – a hearing before the City’s Advisory Agency/Hearing Officer, then a hearing before the City Planning Commission, then a hearing before the City Council’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee, and finally a hearing before the full City Council. All project approvals are expected to be granted by early 2019.
6. Will the project address the City's housing crisis by providing affordable housing so that area residents can afford to live at The Fig?
The Fig has dedicated 20 percent of the project’s 408 total dwelling units (82 units total) to affordable housing. These affordable housing units will be seamlessly integrated into the project’s residential housing. All residents and their families will have access to full project amenities – ample open space, an activity lawn, a fitness center and rooftop pool, as well as neighborhood-supporting retail and restaurants.
7. When is construction scheduled to begin?
We anticipate that construction will begin in late-2019. Once construction has commenced, the project will take approximately 18 months to complete, with project buildout in 2021.
8. How close is the project to public transportation?
The Fig offers convenient access to public transportation and is served by the Metro Blue Line and the Expo Line, as well as several bus lines. The closest Metro rail station is the Expo Park/USC station, which is walking distance from the project.
9. Is the project environmentally friendly?
The Fig is a smart growth, environmentally sustainable project. The project, through its incorporation of these principles, is anticipated to achieve U.S. Green Building’s LEED® Silver equivalent. The project will utilize state-of-the-art energy conservation and efficiency infrastructure to ensure energy is not wasted. It will install high-efficiency toilets and high-efficiency clothes washers. It will encourage the use of graywater and/or blackwater systems. It will incorporate the use of native and drought-tolerant plants. It will provide on-site recycling containers to promote the recycling of paper, metal, glass and other recyclable materials. Residents and visitors will have on-site storage for bicycles and preferred parking for alternative-fuel vehicles, low-emitting, fuel efficient and ride-sharing vehicles will be provided.
10. What is the project's overall economic impact?
The Fig will provide a significant economic impact through both job creation and tax revenue. The project will generate approximately 1,158 full-time and part-time construction jobs and approximately $51.9 million will be paid to on-site workers. The project will create $285.8 million in total economic output, including $177.6 million associated with project construction.
When The Fig is built out and fully operational, the project will create 440 full-time and part-time jobs, of which $21.7 million will be paid to on-site workers in the project’s retail and hotel components. The project will generate $65.5 million associated with on-site operations, measured in producer prices.
The project will generate $5.5 million in annual tax revenue from operations, including $3.25 million in transient occupancy and parking tax revenue to the City of Los Angeles. It will provide $130 million in net fiscal income to the City’s general fund over a 20-year period.
11. How many jobs will The Fig create?
The Fig will create 1,833 total jobs (i.e., direct on-site plus “multiplier effect”), of which 1,158 full-time and part-time construction jobs will be located on-site. When the project is built out and fully operational, the project will create 741 total jobs (i.e., direct on-site plus “multiplier effect”), of which 440 full-time and part-time operations job will be located on-site.
12. Who is Ventus Group?
Ventus Group is a Southern California-based, full-service real estate investment and advisory firm. Ventus blends creativity with diverse real estate skills and experience to address real estate’s many complex needs and challenges. For more information about Spectrum visit www.ventusgroup.com.