In response to shrinking manufacturing demand, declining investment, and parking issues, the City adopted the first Smoky Hollow Specific Plan in 1986. The intent of the 1986 plan was to: 1) preserve existing uses that conform to the plan, 2) provide opportunities for both small business and medium-sized manufacturing uses, 3) provide a transition from the high-density uses on the east side of Sepulveda Boulevard to the lower-density commercial and residential uses to the west, and 4) resolve issues related to parking, circulation, and development standards.

The 1986 plan did not anticipate the tremendous growth in emerging creative, technology, and new media companies in the greater Los Angeles area. Faced with space, regulatory, and time constraints, many developers opted to modernize existing buildings rather than wait for new, ground-up development. This resulted in the preservation of many original brick industrial buildings juxtaposed against more modern, sleeker, and newer developments.

Smoky Hollow’s transition and interesting character appeals to today’s creative class of companies. With demand for creative office space expected to continue to rise, an updated land use framework is needed to sustain Smoky Hollow’s transformation into a regional hub for creative businesses and new types of manufacturing.

This updated Smoky Hollow Specific Plan sets a regulatory and planning framework that focuses development efforts on revitalizing buildings for incubator industrial and office space. This Specific Plan reflects the goals and objectives of various stakeholders, including businesses and property owners, real estate and development professionals, the Planning Commission, and City Council. The Smoky Hollow Specific Plan includes development regulations, design guidelines, and funding strategies to realize the new vision. The plan deliberately builds upon the traditional uses and structures within the district and introduces the opportunity for intensification and revitalization. The ultimate goal is to facilitate the transformation of the Smoky Hollow district from an aging industrial area to a vigorous incubator district and major economic force in the City.