Transit-oriented housing is ramping up in the Valley

The Valley – a suburban outpost notorious for its sprawling neighborhoods and lack of walkability – is about to get a serious makeover.

That’s thanks to the Van Nuys Neighborhood Council, which has throwing its support behind transit-oriented housing. Cue the commuters.

The council recently signed off on a 170-unit apartment complex planned for Van Nuys Boulevard, set to rise near the Orange Line station, Curbed reported.

The San Fernando Valley is awaiting delivery of two major transportation developments following a voter-approved action.

The East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor will run between Sylmar and the Van Nuys Orange Line station. The Sepulveda Pass Transit Corridor will run all the way to south of Westwood, eventually making its way toward LAX. The existing Orange Line will eventually become a light rail, too.

In the meantime, city planners are drafting new transit-oriented plans meant to guide development near the hubs. Plans for the areas within a 15-minute walk radius of the Orange Line stations in North Hollywood, Van Nuys, Sepulveda, Reseda and the Sherman Way station in Canoga Park will be created over the next year.

Still, educating Valley residents to move to the developments and start using public transportation will be no small task, Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian told Curbed.

In the Los Angeles metro area, developers have been taking full advantage of the recent transit-oriented community incentives.

Koreatown is one of the best examples. Construction there has boomed, and major developer Jamison has filed plans to build a 193-unit complex at 2842 W. James Wood Boulevard on Thursday. Earlier in November, an unidentified developer asked for a 26-percent density bonus for his 36-unit apartment building in Westlake. [Curbed] – Natalie Hoberman