LA Council Watch

← All files

Hope Street / 2nd Street / General Thaddeus Kosciuszko Way / Airspace Vacation

Council File 24-1448-S1

Under review — the Public Works Committee approved The Broad museum's request to use airspace above a downtown intersection, but the full City Council still needs to sign off before the vacation can be finalized.

Introduced
2024-12-05
Last changed
2026-06-10
Status
open
Expires
2028-06-10
Committee
Public Works Committee
Initiated by
Bureau of Engineering
References
Vacation: VAC- E1401457

Brief

The Bureau of Engineering initiated proceedings to vacate public airspace (401'9" to 471'9" elevation) at the corner of Hope Street, 2nd Street, and General Thaddeus Kosciuszko Way. The Council approved the vacation 15-0 in January 2025. The matter returned to Public Works Committee in late 2025 for additional review and was approved as amended on June 10, 2026. Airspace vacations typically allow private development above or within the airspace where the City owns no remaining use or interest.

Full summary

This file concerns the vacation of public airspace at a prominent downtown Los Angeles intersection, sought by The Broad museum on Grand Avenue. Deborah Kanter, representing the property owner, applied to release the City's interest in a vertical slice of airspace between approximately 401 feet 2 inches and 471 feet 9 inches above the corner of Hope Street and 2nd Street, along frontages on Hope Street, 2nd Street, and General Thaddeus Kosciuszko Way. The purpose is to allow architectural projections from the adjacent building to extend into that airspace above the public right-of-way. The scope of the request was narrowed during the process: in September 2025, the applicant withdrew certain portions of the originally proposed vacation area, and the Bureau of Engineering's December 2025 report reflects that reduced footprint. The Bureau of Engineering found the airspace unnecessary for present or prospective public use, not needed for vehicular circulation or access, and not required for pedestrians, cyclists, or equestrians. The city departments that reviewed the request raised no objections: LADOT confirmed it does not oppose the vacation, the Fire Department found no objection, and City Planning determined the request is consistent with the General Plan and the Central City Community Plan. Verizon maintains facilities in the vacation area, and the Bureau has required the applicant to make arrangements with Verizon and other utilities either to relocate affected infrastructure or to secure protective easements. The Bureau set several conditions the applicant must satisfy before the formal Resolution to Vacate can be recorded. These include submitting a legal description and map of the vacation area, providing a title report on the underlying fee interest, constructing or repairing streetscape improvements along adjacent frontages on Hope Street, 2nd Street, General Thaddeus Kosciuszko Way, and Grand Avenue, and recording an agreement to hold adjoining parcels under unified ownership to prevent the creation of landlocked or substandard parcels. Street lighting and urban forestry requirements may also apply. The conditions must be completed within two years of Council action on the City Engineer's report or the proceedings terminate automatically. The file moved quickly through its initial stage: introduced December 2024, adopted unanimously by Council 15-0 on January 22, 2025. The Bureau then submitted its detailed conditions report in December 2025, which was referred back to Public Works Committee. After a brief continuance in January 2026, the committee approved the item as amended on June 10, 2026. The file now awaits full Council action on the amended report before the Resolution to Vacate can be recorded.

Activity (11)

  • 2026-06-10 Public Works Committee approved as amended .
  • 2026-06-05 Public Works Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on June 10, 2026.
  • 2026-01-14 Public Works Committee continued item to a date to be determined.
  • 2026-01-09 Public Works Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on January 14, 2026.
  • 2025-12-18 Bureau of Engineering document(s) referred to Public Works Committee.
  • 2025-12-17 Document submitted by Bureau of Engineering, dated December 17, 2025.
  • 2025-01-24 Council action final.
  • 2025-01-22 Council adopted item, subject to reconsideration, pursuant to Council Rule 51.
  • 2025-01-17 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on January 22, 2025.
  • 2024-12-06 Bureau of Engineering transmitted Council File to Public Works Committee Clerk.
  • 2024-12-05 Document(s) submitted by Bureau of Engineering, as follows:Bureau of Engineering report, dated December 2, 2024, relative to the initiation of vacation proceedings to vacate airspace (elevation of 401’9” to 471’9”) at the corner of Hope Street and 2nd Street, General Thaddeus Kosciuszko Way (airspace vacation); VAC-E1401457.

Documents (14)

Council votes (1)

  • 2025-01-22 Adopted — 15-0-0 · Regular

View on CFMS →