L.A. Developmental
J.H. Snyder has $1.5 billion worth of developments ongoing in Southern California.
Randall Shearin

If there is one developer who can be pointed out as developing a lot of the signature projects in Los Angeles over many years, it is the J.H. Snyder Company.

J.H. Snyder's successful project The River, located in Rancho Mirage, California.

Today, Jerry Snyder and his partners Cliff Goldstein, Milt Swimmer and Michael Wise, lead the company in actively developing cutting-edge urban retail projects around the city.

“We recognize that quality urban infill projects can catalyze neighborhood revitalization. We are also excited to work with cities to find creative ways to overcome barriers to urban development,” says Snyder.

As many who have looked at Southern California will know, Los Angeles is one of the toughest markets to find available land today. Within Los Angeles, the J.H. Snyder Company has specialized in many niche markets, most recently developing infill centers with in-demand tenants like Target, in addition to outlying markets like Huntington Beach and Commerce. The company currently has $1.5 billion worth of projects underway, and several recently completed projects that highlight its successful track record as both a developer and a financial partner.

“Our commitment to quality projects that endure over time have helped us earn a sterling reputation as a solid financial partner,” says Wise.

NoHo Commons, North Hollywood, is a transit-oriented mixed-use project that will have a retail component anchored by How's Market.

The J.H. Snyder Company has also been successful with the lease-up of its Bella Terra project in Huntington Beach, California. The open-air lifestyle center will be the result of a transformation of the former Huntington Mall, originally developed in the late 1960s, when the center is completely open this fall. Bella Terra has had tenants open as construction progresses; already Circuit City, Staples, Barnes & Noble and Kohl's have opened at the center, among other smaller tenants. Restaurants that have opened include California Pizza Kitchen and Islands. Thirteen other restaurants, including Pomodoro Cucina Italiana, Johnny Rockets and Kabuki, will open by fall. A 20-screen, 4,000-seat Century Theatres megaplex will also be part of the center.

Snyder worked hard on Bella Terra to develop a center that reflected the lifestyle and needs of the Huntington Beach community. It created an architectural team comprised of The Jerde Partnership, who was charged with the concept design, and Perkowitz & Ruth, who was in charge of project design, as well as L.A. Group, who handled landscape architecture. J.H. Snyder Co.'s experienced construction management team oversees the completion of each project, from start to finish.

“From ground-up construction to large-scale projects like the de-malling of Bella Terra, our team has been capable of taking on complex building assignments and guiding them to on-time delivery,” says Swimmer.

The Water Garden, a J.H. Snyder office project in Santa Monica, California.

Although J.H. Snyder Co.'s retail division may be leading the charge, the company's proficiency with building diverse product types has kept them at the head of the pack.

“Our depth of experience in the Southern California marketplace has made us adept at identifying what type of project will be most successful in a given area — retail, multifamily, office and/or mixed-use. Our versatility then allows us to execute that project in a way that stands the test of time,” says Goldstein.

In the Golden Triangle of Beverly Hills, the company is developing another mixed-use project called The Crescent, just steps from Rodeo Drive. The project will incorporate 40,000 square feet of Class A office space with 12 two-story brownstone townhouses and 76 luxury apartments. The apartments will be the first rental apartment complex developed in Beverly Hills in the last 25 years. With its location at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Crescent Drive, The Crescent will have an upscale feel. The company has targeted top-tier professional firms for the office space and rents aren't inexpensive for the new apartments.

West Hollywood Gateway in West Hollywood, California, brought a Target to L.A.'s West Side.

As with Bella Terra, the J.H. Snyder Company is putting a lot of thought into the design of Commerce Town Center. The Jerde Partnership has again been brought in to develop a concept design for the center. Wide pedestrian walkways will enhance the ambiance of the center. Outdoor dining and water features will also be prime attractions to residents of the area. Snyder wants to bring retailers who aren't already in the area to the project so that residents have another reason to shop and dine at Commerce Town Center.

Snyder is also working exclusively with the city of Ontario, California, to redevelop the city's Downtown Civic Center project. The $200 million redevelopment of the city's downtown will encompass a 12-block area and include 750 housing units, 100,000 square feet of retail and up to 200,000 square feet of office and academic space. The housing units will be divided between lofts, rental units and for-sale townhomes. The company is working with the city to weave these uses in with the existing city hall, a recently completed senior center and a new main library for the city, which is currently under construction. The Jerde Partnership is working with Snyder to create a concept that will create a place that brings civic, retail and housing uses to downtown Ontario.