23-1022-S12

The City Council is being asked to authorize the Department of General Services to negotiate and execute a ground lease agreement with GMA – Sierra Vista, LLC and Sierra Vista – Y, LLC to operate a Tiny Home Village at 5301 Sierra Vista Avenue in Council District 13.

District CD 13
First Seen November 12, 2025
Last Seen November 12, 2025
Appearances 1 meeting(s)
Official title: STATUTORY EXEMPTION and HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS COMMITTEE REPORT relative to a revised lease agreement with GMA - Sierra Vista, LLC and Sierra Vista-Y, LLC for interim housing operations of a Tiny Home Village (THV) located at 5301 Sierra Vista Avenue in Council District (CD) 13.

Timeline

Related documents

Report from Municipal Facilities Committee dated 10-30-25
What is Being Proposed?

The City Council is being asked to authorize the Department of General Services to negotiate and execute a ground lease agreement with GMA – Sierra Vista, LLC and Sierra Vista – Y, LLC to operate a Tiny Home Village at 5301 Sierra Vista Avenue in Council District 13. This is a revised request following renegotiations that updated lease terms since initial Council approval in April 2025.

Why This Project?

The Tiny Home Village is designed to provide emergency interim housing for people experiencing homelessness. The City previously allocated $3.87 million in Emergency Stabilization Beds Grant funds for construction of the site, which will include 45 tiny home units providing 51 beds total, plus support facilities like hygiene cabins, laundry facilities, and offices. A nonprofit service provider (to be selected) will operate the housing once construction is complete, with the project expected to open by mid-2027.

Key Details

The lease runs for five years from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2030 with no extension options. Rent is waived for the first three months, then increases over time: $20,000/month (April-December 2026), $31,930/month (2027-mid-2028), $32,887.90/month (mid-2028-mid-2029), and $33,874.54/month (mid-2029-end of 2030). Council District 13 discretionary funds will cover the $60,000 lease cost for Fiscal Year 2025-26.

Impact

This project directly addresses homelessness in Council District 13 by providing 51 beds of interim housing. The City retains responsibility for major building systems, while the selected operator covers utilities and day-to-day maintenance. There is no immediate General Fund impact for 2025-26, though lease costs for years beyond 2026 may require General Fund support in future budgets.

Joint Report from Housing and Homelessness and Budget and Finance Committees - 4-1-25
What is Being Proposed?

The Los Angeles City Council is being asked to approve a lease agreement with GMA - Sierra Vista, LLC and Sierra Vista-Y, LLC to operate a Tiny Home Village (THV) at 5301 Sierra Vista Avenue in Council District 13. This interim housing facility would provide 51 beds for homeless individuals and function as a low-barrier navigation center. The lease would be for 36 months with two optional one-year extensions.

Why?

This project addresses the city's homelessness crisis as part of the Alliance Settlement Agreement, which requires the city to provide supportive housing. The project is also being fast-tracked through CEQA environmental review exemptions because it qualifies as emergency housing to prevent or mitigate the homelessness emergency.

Key Details

Location: 5301 Sierra Vista Avenue, Council District 13 Capacity: 51 beds Lease Term: 3 years with two 1-year renewal options Operator: GMA - Sierra Vista, LLC and Sierra Vista-Y, LLC Contingency: The lease depends on the nonprofit Dignity Moves executing a contract with the Bureau of Engineering to construct and develop the site Timeline: This is a time-limit file with March 5, 2025 deadline (document shows approval occurred April 1, 2025)

Impact & Fiscal Effects

Both the Housing and Homelessness Committee and Budget and Finance Committee unanimously approved this proposal. The city will not incur costs through Fiscal Year 2025-26, but will face potential General Fund expenses starting in Fiscal Year 2026-27 to support the lease operations.

Report from Municipal Facilities Committee dated 3-05-25
What Is Being Proposed?

The City of Los Angeles is seeking approval to negotiate and execute a lease agreement with GMA - Sierra Vista, LLC and Sierra Vista-Y, LLC to operate a Tiny Home Village (THV) at 5301 Sierra Vista Avenue in Council District 13. The facility would provide 51 beds of emergency interim housing for people experiencing homelessness and would count toward the City's obligations under the Alliance Settlement Agreement. The Municipal Facilities Committee approved this recommendation on February 27, 2025, with the condition that the lease is contingent on the full execution of a contract with nonprofit Dignity Moves to construct and build the site.

Why Is This Needed?

The Tiny Home Village is part of the City's broader strategy to address homelessness through emergency housing. The project has been previously approved by City Council as part of the Third Alliance Funding report, which allocated $3.86 million in Emergency Stabilization Beds Grant funds to support construction of 45 units (51 beds total) using the Boss Cubez tiny home typology. This lease represents the operational component needed to make the housing site functional.

Key Details

Location: 5301 Sierra Vista Avenue, Council District 13 (19,185 square feet) Capacity: 51 beds in a mix of single and double occupancy units, plus six hygiene cabins, laundry facilities, offices, and community structures Lease Terms: 36 months from commencement with two optional one-year extensions; rent begins at $0 for the first 60 days, then escalates from $2,568/month to $31,000/month by February 2026, with 3% annual increases thereafter Construction Timeline: Dignity Moves is expected to complete construction by mid-2026

Impact

This decision will provide 51 emergency housing beds for unhoused individuals in CD 13. There is no immediate General Fund impact through Fiscal Year 2025-26, but potential future costs beginning in FY 2026-27 to support ongoing lease payments. The facility includes environmental testing requirements and the City retains the right to terminate the lease if soil testing reveals the site is not viable.

6 additional document(s)
Communication from Housing and Homelessness Committee Clerk - 11-5-25
Council Action dated 4-11-25
Communication from Housing and Homelessness Committee Clerk - 3-19-25
Speaker Card(s)_03-19-2025
Speaker Card(s)_04-01-2025
Speaker Card(s)_04-09-2025