Sherman Oaks WELCOME HOME

New environmental documents shed light on developer IMT Residential’s plan to build apartments at the former Sherman Oaks headquarters of Sunkist Growers, Inc. The 8.3-acre site at Riverside Drive and Hazeltine Avenue is currently improved with Sunkist’s home for more than a half-century: a three-story, 126,000-square-foot building designed by the architecture firm A.C. Martin. IMT plans to renovate the 1960s structure, which will be retained as creative office space in the new development.

Last summer, LA City Councilman Tom LaBonge began pushing for the repeal of SB 211, a law passed in 1991 which bans the construction of light rail on what is now Metro’s Orange Line busway. While a light rail conversion has become a popular cause amongst San Fernando Valley transit users, the reality is that the LA City Council has no power to overturn state law. However, it appears that Sherman Oaks Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian has successfully taken the fight to Sacramento.

In February 2013, news emerged that IMT Capital was planning a mixed-use development on a Sherman Oaks parcel which formerly housed the headquarters of the Sunkist Growers Cooperative. Just over one year later, the Valley Village-based developer has finally submitted their project to the city for approval. According to a recent case filing from LADCP, plans for the 8.5 acre site call for 298 residential units and an unspecified amount of ground floor commercial space.

Although the Sunkist Growers Cooperative relocated north to Valencia last year, their former landlords have managed to land on their feet. IMT Capital–owner of the local landmark at 14130 Riverside Drive–will soon reorient their property as a mixed-use development, converting adjacent parking lots into apartment buildings. The residential-retail complex, to be known as ICON Sherman Oaks, calls for a total of 298 apartment units and slightly under 40,000 square feet of neighborhood serving commercial space.