North Los Angeles County Regional Center has signed a nearly 167,000-square-foot lease for its headquarters in Chatsworth, representing the largest office lease by square footage in Los Angeles County so far this year, according to brokerage Newmark Group Inc.

Newmark’s Executive Vice President Steve Kolsky, Executive Managing Director Suzanne Lee and Managing Director Ron Burkhardt represented the tenant in the transaction. Jones Lang LaSalle Inc.’s Jim Lindvall and Chloe Sanchez represented the landlord, Omninet, in the lease.

“We are honored to have advised NLACRC in the optimization and expansion of its headquarters facility in a way that aligns with their growth plans and mission.” Lee said in a statement.

Growing in the area

As a nonprofit, NLACRC partners with community-based organizations to help individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. Its space was previously 112,115 square feet at the same property.

“NLACRC’s dedicated work partnering with community organizations to serve individuals with developmental disabilities and their families continues to make a meaningful impact across the region, and we’re proud to help position them for long-term success,” Burkhardt said in a statement.

The San Fernando Valley office market saw its average asking rate for Class A properties drop 2 cents a square foot to $3.01 during the fourth quarter of last year, according to data from JLL. It also saw more than 166,000 square feet of negative net absorption during the quarter and vacancy rates of 26.7%. Still, the vacancy rate was below the county average of 28.7% during the quarter, the brokerage found.