About The New Century Plan.

OVERVIEW

Q: What is The New Century Plan?
A: The New Century Plan is Westfield Century City’s effort to enhance the way patrons shop, dine, relax and live in Century City.  Featuring a new layout that integrates the Center into the neighborhood with acres of lush open space and more open air, The New Century Plan also offers more choices in specialty shops and boutiques, and more delicious restaurants and exciting new residences in the heart of Century City.

The Plan will:

• Generate $8.1 million in sales and other tax revenue annually.
• Achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by utilizing environmentally friendly technologies and practices; and
• Enhance the pedestrian experience, add transportation improvements and provide additional transit options to improve the traffic flow in and around Century City.


Q: Will The New Century Plan provide any economic benefits to the City?
A: Already a powerful economic engine for Los Angeles, The New Century Plan will enhance the role that the Center plays as a major partner in the City’s economic future. Today, the Center generates $6.7 million in tax revenues to the City annually. When The New Century Plan is completed, the revitalized Center will generate $8.1 million in sales and other tax revenues annually and support 11,985 construction/development jobs and 14,001 total new jobs in the Los Angeles County economy.

Q: Will any taxpayer monies be spent to make The New Century Plan improvements?
A: No.  As a private development project, there will be no cost to taxpayers.

NEW RESIDENTIAL

Q: How many residential units are planned?
A: A total of 262 residential units are planned.

Q: What will be the height of the new residential building?
A: The proposed residential building will have a total of 49 stories of residential and retail space.  To provide some context, the twin towers at the 2000 Avenue of the Stars complex are each 44 stories and two 47-story residential buildings have been approved for 10131 Constellation Boulevard.

Q: What differentiates the Center’s new residences from other residences currently planned for Century City?
A: What differentiates The New Century Plan residences from other planned Century City residences is that they are part of a mixed-use project, where residents literally will be integrated into the Center.  Residents of The New Century Plan can live, work, dine, shop and be entertained all in one place, without having to first get in their car.

Q: What will be the price ranges of the new residential units?
A: The new residences are planned to be priced at market rates. 

Q: How can I find out more about buying one of the planned residences?
A: Just visit www.TheNewCenturyPlan.com, click on the “get in touch” button, fill out the information requested and check the box letting us know you are interested in living in one of our residences.  We’ll be sure to stay in touch!


PARKING

Q: How many parking spaces does the Center currently have?
A: Currently Westfield Century City has 2,630 parking spaces

Q: How many new parking spaces will be added?
A: It is anticipated that after project completion, there will be a total of 4,529 on-site parking spaces.  There will be 3,874 spaces for retail, restaurant and office uses and 655 parking spaces for the 262-unit residential building.  The project parking has been designed so that on weekends and in the evening (when fewer spaces are needed for the office component) the other empty spaces can be used by patrons of the shopping center. All of the new parking spaces will connect to the existing parking garage.


TRANSPORTATION

Q: How will the project impact traffic?
A: No street segments or mainline freeway segments are expected to be significantly impacted by The New Century Plan project after its improvements are in place.  Additionally, due to the demolition of two existing office buildings on-site (located at the northeast corner of Century Park West and Constellation Boulevard, and the southwest corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Avenue of the Stars), The New Century Plan will reduce traffic during peak weekday morning commute.  The conservative traffic study identifies a potential increase in traffic during the weekday afternoon peak commuter hours and the weekend mid-day peak hours due to the added retail and residential space, but The New Century Plan includes several measures to alleviate or mitigate these impacts to less than significant levels. 

Q: What are some of the traffic improvements you are proposing?
A: The New Century Plan enhances the pedestrian experience, adds transportation improvements and provides additional transit options connected to the Center itself to improve traffic flow in and around Century City.  Our commitment to traffic mitigation is ongoing and we are working with planners, professional traffic flow experts and architects to continue to provide better, more efficient solutions.

Fox example:

• We are currently working with the Century City Chamber of Commerce on an area-wide survey to collect data on commuter patterns into and out of Century City. This data is being used to develop alternate modes of transportation for people working and living in and around Century City, with the goal of reducing the need for single driver car trips.
• During the holiday season, we invested in a free shuttle to transport nearby residents to and from the Center. Our professional traffic experts have collected data from this pilot program and will analyze it with the area-wide survey to determine how to better serve an expanded Century City area.
• An improved parking system will be implemented in mid 2008 to improve parking efficiency.
• Our proposed removal of two aging office buildings adjacent to the Center will result in fewer morning rush hour commuters each day. Additionally, enhanced retail and restaurant offerings encourage Century City's workers to dine, shop or see a movie after work instead of traveling during rush hour.
• Traffic improvements, an efficient parking plan and the mixture of residential and retail uses that utilize the roadways at different times during the day will help with local traffic flow.
• We're reaching out to the MTA to analyze and consider in their plan a future transit stop by providing space for the Center to connect to the potential future Westside Red Line extension on Santa Monica Boulevard at Avenue of the Stars.
• We're working with Councilman Weiss, the community and businesses in the area to implement a plan that strengthens pedestrian connections to the Santa Monica Transit Corridor, thereby making it easier for Century City workers to take the improved Rapid Bus services to and from work and to make public transportation more accessible for all.


SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Q: Does the project include any environmentally friendly building practices?
A: The New Century Plan reflects Westfield’s ongoing commitment to the environment by designing the project to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification established by the U.S. Green Building Council.  The design removes two aged office buildings and integrates residential space into the retail center, creating efficiencies in water and energy usage.

Other environmentally friendly technologies and practices being considered include:

• Continuing the partnership with area stakeholders and the Council office to implement a greening, landscape and pedestrian plan connecting Century City as a whole.
• Implementing a comprehensive recycling program and waste reduction strategy for tenants, shoppers and residents.
• Applying world-class design and construction practices for high-efficiency buildings with fixtures and equipment that minimize the use of water and energy.
• Reducing fresh water consumption by using recycled water for landscape irrigation.
• Installing new large-scale solar panels on the rooftops of new buildings, to supply the project with renewable energy.
• Westfield supports the California Climate Action Registry and is preparing to be one of the few private enterprises to participate in the registry.


THE REVIEW PROCESS

Q: Will a full environmental impact report be prepared?
A: The City of Los Angeles is overseeing the preparation of a comprehensive Environmental Impact Report that will analyze potential project impacts on a variety of issue areas, including traffic, noise, air quality, and many other areas.  The New Century Plan’s Draft Environmental Impact Report was published in March 2008, with the Final Environmental Impact Report expected in Summer 2008.

Q: How long is the review and approval process?
A: We are still in the early stages of a review and approval process with the City of Los Angeles.  Under the auspices of the City, the project is currently undergoing an extensive environmental review, including the preparation of a comprehensive Environmental Impact Report and detailed traffic analyses and studies.  Once the Draft and Final Environmental Impact Reports have been prepared and published, the City of Los Angeles will hold public hearings on The New Century Plan over the course of several months, to ensure a thorough and comprehensive review of the project.  Westfield is strongly committed to working with all area stakeholders in an effort to provide accurate information, respond to questions and address issues, as feasible. If you have questions or comments, please email us at info@thenewcenturyplan.com, or by calling (310) 364-1579. We look forward to hearing from you!

PROJECT CONSTRUCTION

Q: When will construction start and finish?
A: We anticipate that if project approvals are received by the end of 2008, construction could begin as early as 2009.  In order to deliver each component of the project as soon as possible, construction will be phased.  We anticipate completing The New Century Plan within approximately four years.

Q: Will the Center remain open during construction?
A: Just as Westfield Century City remained open during our previous revitalization, during implementation of The New Century Plan we will remain open and eager to see our patrons!