Press Release
Noted African American Developers Advance Plans for Angels Landing, a Twin-Tower Hotel Project in the Heart of Downtown L.A.
February 09, 2021
Two acclaimed African American developers – Victor MacFarlane of MacFarlane Partners and R. Donahue Peebles of The Peebles Corporation – are doubling-down on their multi-million-dollar effort to bring thousands of new jobs and economic benefits to the nation’s second-largest city as development partners of Angels Landing, their $2 billion, twin-tower luxury hotel project in downtown L.A.’s Bunker Hill neighborhood.
MacFarlane and Peebles are majority-owner principals of Angels Landing Partners, LLC, the development partnership responsible for conceiving, designing, building and operating Angels Landing. The partnership was officially selected by L.A. City officials at the conclusion of the city’s competitive bid process in 2017. Their partnership’s intentions are firmly focused on completing construction of Angels Landing before elite athletes, sports officials and tourists worldwide converge in L.A. for the 2028 Olympic Summer Games.
Victor B. MacFarlane, chairman and CEO, MacFarlane Partners said, “Angels Landing aligns well with many of the projects we have built in the past 30 years throughout the U.S., including two residential developments recently completed a block away, near Pershing Square.
“The foundation of our business has always been to strengthen communities where we do business,” Mr. MacFarlane said. “We believe we can help communities prosper. We know Angels Landing will have a significant positive impact on L.A.’s economy. The ripple effect of Angels Landing’s substantial economic and employment activity will reverberate throughout L.A. County by providing good-paying union jobs to construct our hotel project and extensive career opportunities when the project is completed and its hotels are open to the public.
“We have spent more than $10 million to move our project forward,” he added. “We’re not letting the coronavirus pandemic slow us down. We anticipate our project entitlement this year.”
Angels Landing will consist of two towers, each anchored by its own five-star hotel. In addition to the hotels, the development will feature an expansive modern urban park – known as Angels Landing Plaza – designed to serve as a pedestrian-centered, transit-adjacent, open-space environment in the heart of downtown L.A.
R. Donahue Peebles, Chairman and CEO, The Peebles Corporation said, “Equity and inclusion are bedrock principles at The Peebles Corporation. My success is predicated on opportunities I received because of those two important tenets. I have built an impressive collection of commercial and residential projects in New York, Washington, D.C., Miami, and other U.S. cities.
“In each city, I’ve been most excited about using my influence to empower Black-owned, Latino-owned, and women-owned business leaders,” Mr. Peebles added. “My company works diligently to help minority-owned enterprises grow their businesses through procurement contracts established through our development projects.”
According to an analysis prepared by BJH Advisors, LLC, more than 8,300 new jobs will be created during Angels Landing’s project design and construction. The New York City-based firm’s report estimates Angels Landing would additionally create more than 800 permanent jobs in downtown L.A. An estimated 500 jobs would be created by vendors in the L.A. County region providing goods and services to the two luxury hotels.
In addition to newly created jobs, the BJH Advisors analysis projects Angels Landing would give L.A.’s local economy a $1.6 billion boost and contribute $731 million to local worker’s earnings during its construction. The project would generate as estimated $12 million in recurring tax revenues and $2.4 million annually in local property tax revenues, according to the report.
“With Angels Landing, the transformative impact of empowerment and economic inclusion will be felt by an array of businesses, including Latino- and Asian-owned businesses,” Mr. Peebles added. “We have committed to a goal of 30% M/WBE contracting across the board for our project. We’re raising the bar for economic inclusion for development projects in Los Angeles.”
Angels Landing Plaza will frame the angular, multi-level Bunker Hill site as a publicly accessible, privately managed park amenity, establishing it as a vibrant, inviting and treasured locale for L.A.’s downtown neighborhood residents, weekday commuters, nightlife seekers, tourists and hotel guests. L.A.’s historic Angel’s Flight funicular will operate on its hillside-climbing route contiguous to the Angels Landing development.
“With our commitment to Angels Landing, we are committing to the future of downtown Los Angeles,” Mr. MacFarlane said. “Despite the millions of dollars expended so far to keep our project on track, and notwithstanding the strong pandemic-induced recessionary pressures on L.A.’s economy, we continue to push hard to make our plans for Angels Landing a reality. Having recently completed our Park Fifth and Trademark apartment communities adjacent to Pershing Square, Angels Landing represents our continued faith in the economic future of downtown Los Angeles.”
Mr. Peebles noted that “2020 was a trying year for nearly every sector in the business world and the first three quarters of 2021 may be equally challenging. But we’ve faced big challenges in the past and always managed to prevail. The success of our development businesses is a testament to our drive and commitment to build projects that improve the quality of life in the communities where they’re built.”
Mr. MacFarlane said, “The economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic has been significant this year. Some of those negative economic impacts, such as lagging job growth, are projected to extend well into 2021. But pessimistic economic indicators and projections have not shaken our resolve to build Angels Landing. We’re making our investment to create new jobs for L.A. area residents. We’re confident Angels Landing will help the L.A. economy rebound and gain strength. Angels Landing will create thousands of jobs that will result in millions of dollars circulating throughout the L.A. region providing a needed boost to small businesses.”
Angels Landing Partners, LLC at a Glance
MacFarlane Partners – Victor MacFarlane – www.macfarlanepartners.com
MacFarlane Partners is a real estate investment and development firm that acquires, develops and manages properties on behalf of some of the world’s largest pension plans and institutions as well as for its own account. Founded in 1987, the firm pioneered the urban investment concept among institutional real estate investment managers in the 1990s and today is a leading investor in and developer of properties that promote smart growth, urban revitalization, sustainability and equitable development in urban and high-density suburban areas nationwide. It is headquartered in San Francisco and operates a regional office in Los Angeles.
Representative MacFarlane Development Projects:
Park Fifth, a 24-story, transit-adjacent high-rise in downtown L.A. consisting of 347 rental apartments, a 360-degree-view rooftop deck and 5,300 square feet of retail space. Trademark, a seven-story, transit-adjacent residential mid-rise with 313 rental apartments, a 14,000 sq. ft. outdoor courtyard and street-level retail space built across from L.A.’s historic Pershing Square. 1100 Wilshire, an office high-rise in downtown L.A. that was converted to residential use. Ladera Center, a neighborhood shopping center in L.A.’s Ladera Heights neighborhood that was renovated and repositioned. Hollywest Promenade, a mixed-use property with retail space and affordable senior housing built across from a subway station in Hollywood. Metropolitan Lofts, Hikari and Sakura Crossing, three separate mixed-income rental apartment communities, all of which were developed in downtown L.A. Wilshire Vermont Station, a mixed-use community built atop a subway station along L.A.’s Mid-Wilshire Corridor. The Hotel & Residences at L.A. Live, a 54-story high-rise built adjacent to the Staples Center and the L.A. Convention Center in downtown L.A.
The Peebles Corporation – Don Peebles – www.peeblescorp.com
The Peebles Corporation is a privately held national real estate investment and development company specializing in residential, hospitality, retail and mixed-use commercial properties. The company has corporate offices in New York City, Miami, and Washington, D.C. Founded in 1983 by Don Peebles, the company has become an industry leader with a portfolio of active and completed developments totaling more than 10 million square feet and $8 billion in the gateway cities of New York; Boston; Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.; Charlotte; Miami; San Francisco; and Los Angeles. Through construction excellence, sustainable practices, historic preservation and innovative design, every project is strategically selected to achieve transformative results for the company and community.
Representative Peebles Corp. Development Projects:
Brooklyn Village (Charlotte), a three-million-square-foot mixed-use (apartments, hotels, office space and ground level retail) public-private partnership with Mecklenburg County, N.C. Viola Back Bay (Boston), a 400,000 square-foot landmark mixed-use (condominiums, 175-room boutique lifestyle hotel, retail and community space) public-private partnership with MassDOT. 108 Leonard Street (New York City), a 400,000-square-foot (landmark luxury condominiums, parking facility and 15,000 square feet of community space) public-private partnership with the NYCEDC. 1801 Vine Street (Philadelphia), a 250,000-square-foot (a 200-room landmark hotel and historic neoclassical courthouse preservation) public-private partnership with PAID. SLS Hotel and Residences (Washington, D.C.), a 50,000-square-foot (175-room luxury hotel and residences) public-private partnership with DMPED. The Royal Palm Hotel (Miami Beach, Fla.), a 350,000 square-foot (17-story, twin tower hotel preservation with new construction) public-private partnership with the City of Miami Beach. The Residences at The Bath Club (Miami Beach, Fla.), a 107-unit condominium tower with six oceanfront villas with amenities comparable to a five-star hotel. Courtyard by Marriott Convention Center (Washington, D.C.), a 188-room, ornate landmark hotel built within a restored bank building originally completed in 1891 near Smithsonian Mall.
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