The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors last week approved a massive development in the Santa Clarita Valley which will pave the way for 1,574 apartments and condos called “Entrada South.”

The project, which the board said was one of the largest to come across its desk in years, also includes the expansion of the Valencia Commerce Center with an additional 4 million square feet of industrial and commercial space. This is expected to create more than 10,000 jobs, according to the board.

Entrada South’s developer Newhall Land and Farming Co. – a subsidiary of FivePoint Holdings, which has a long history creating housing in the area – will finance up to $62 million of transportation improvements needed for the project which has a total budget of $250 million.

“This project … (helps) the county advance its housing goals with a blend of market rate and affordable homes and generating thousands of more jobs,” Alex Herrell, senior vice president of entitlements at FivePoint, said.

In addition to multifamily units, Entrada South will have 730,000 square feet of commercial space for hotel, office and retail components.

For the housing component of the project, the county and development team pledged to have 110 affordable apartments onsite and 78 offsite for households earning up to 135% of the area median income, Amy Bodek, the county’s director of regional planning, said at last week’s board meeting. The offsite units will be located at a nearby site owned by FivePoint.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose district includes the Santa Clarita Valley, said the project “is another big step forward towards addressing the housing affordability crisis in the region, which was only made worse by the recent Los Angeles wildfires.” Pointing to her constituents who were displaced and struggling to find affordable rentals, Barger said she is “committed to supporting projects that make home ownership an achievable goal for young and older generations alike.” 

Fire safety

Herrell said he and his team prioritized fire resistance in their building plans.

“Fire safety is central to our plan,” he said at the board meeting. “The project is designed as a wildfire resistant community meeting California’s strict 7A fire codes and incorporating prevention response strategies developed in partnership with county fire officials.”

These codes include provisions regarding ventilation requirements, ignition-resistant materials and roof installation standards.

Upon reviewing the project plans, L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone asserted that they not only match up to current code but include safety measures not yet required by law.

“These homes will be able to withstand a wind-driven wildfire and not ignite like we saw in both Palisades and Eaton,” Marrone said.

Another highlight of the project was its commitment to sustainability.

“Importantly, the project will be among the most environmentally sustainable communities of its kind, achieving net-zero greenhouse gases,” Herrell said.