LA County Plans to Revitalize the Historic General Hospital Site into a Community Hub
Los Angeles County Unveils Revitalization Plan for Historic General Hospital Campus
The Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) has revealed an ambitious master plan to transform the historic General Hospital Campus into a "Healthy Village" that prioritizes wellness, housing, economic development, and community services. This revitalization initiative aims to reimagine the 30.8-acre site located in Boyle Heights, featuring a 1.2 million-square-foot, 19-story building that has stood since 1934, but sustained significant damage in the 1993 earthquake.
A statement from LA County highlighted the need for this revitalization, noting that as infrastructure aged and new hospital safety regulations were adopted, medical services were relocated to the LA General Medical Center adjacent to the historic structure in 2008, leaving much of the original site vacant.
In 2018, Hilda L. Solis, Chair of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, introduced a motion for a feasibility study focused on the adaptive reuse of the building. The motion received unanimous support from the Board.
Solis emphasized the hospital’s long history of providing care to thousands of residents who could not afford quality health services, expressing optimism that the master plan will foster hope and opportunity for families. “This Master Plan is rooted in years of collaboration and reflects the voices of residents, community partners, and stakeholders who helped shape a ‘Healthy Village’ vision for the future of this historic campus," she stated. The plan aims to create a community-centered space that enhances access to housing, wellness, economic opportunities, and open areas while honoring the site’s legacy.
In January 2023, the Board authorized moving forward with the vision through a public-private partnership with Centennial Partners, a collaboration between Primestor Development and Bayspring Real Estate Partners.
Giovanna Araujo, project director for Centennial Partners, emphasized the necessity of remaining responsive to evolving community needs. “As this project is implemented over the coming decade, we know community needs and the realities of our world will change. Our responsibility is to remain present with those changes—continuing to listen, adapt, and create a campus that serves both those who rely on it today and the generations,” she said.
The planning process involved hundreds of meetings with community organizations, stakeholders, the Wellness Center, the LAC+USC Medical Foundation, and local residents to develop a responsive framework that considers shifting market conditions and public needs.
The draft master plan includes provisions for affordable, workforce, and mixed-income housing; expanded wellness and supportive services; community-oriented retail; public plazas; enhanced pedestrian and transit connectivity; workforce training and job opportunities; and the preservation and adaptive reuse of the historic building. Development is expected to proceed in phases, ensuring that continuity of care at LA General Medical Center, which serves over 1 million patients annually, is maintained.
Currently, the building’s lower floors accommodate ancillary support services for the medical center, various county departments, and community-based organizations, including The Wellness Center.
Additionally, the county is advancing a $120 million stabilization project focused on seismic upgrades, infrastructure improvements, and preservation efforts to ready the historic building for redevelopment.
