A lawsuit has been filed by The Grove’s management team against the city of Los Angeles and studio developer Hackman Capital Partners, challenging the approval of the $1 billion Television City expansion project. The 25-acre redevelopment aims to expand the famous studio into a nearly 1 million-square-foot complex along Fairfax Avenue.
The suit claims that the city’s approval violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), citing “frustratingly undefined” boundaries that make it difficult to measure the project’s environmental effects. The complaint argues that the City Council showed “stunning disregard” for CEQA regulations in its approval process.
The Grove, owned by billionaire developer Rick Caruso, is adjacent to Television City and has expressed concerns about traffic, parking problems, pollution, and other negative impacts on the community. The management team claims that there is significant community opposition to the project, with multiple lawsuits filed by local businesses, residential associations, and organizations advocating for preserving the neighborhood’s cultural history.
The city developer HCP disputes this, stating that the project has “broad support” from business, labor, and environmental groups, as well as the local community. The lawsuit is seen as an attempt to stop the investment in the entertainment industry, which would be a significant boost for Los Angeles.
Caruso himself has been involved in public debates about CEQA regulations and has pledged to reduce frivolous challenges during his mayoral campaign. However, he remains coy about his future political ambitions, saying that he needs time to consider another civil service role.
Source: https://commercialobserver.com/2025/02/la-caruso-hackman-television-city-studio-lawsuit-ceqa