• The SFV 101
  • Posts
  • Inside the Rams’ Bold New Vision for Warner Center

Inside the Rams’ Bold New Vision for Warner Center

The Scoop on Rams Village, Transit Dreams, and a Summer Weekend Built for the Books

Author

Adam Kruze
June 23, 2025

🐏 Big moves are happening in Woodland Hills, where the Rams are going all-in on their new Valley headquarters — and we’ve got the inside scoop. This week’s issue breaks down the multi-billion-dollar buildout, the Valley’s long-lost monorail dreams, and a couple of weekend events that range from comic con chaos to candle-lit dog adoptions. Let’s get into it.

🌱 Did You Know? Reseda was once the lima bean capital of the Valley — and despite being named after a sweet-smelling plant (reseda odorata), it’s more famous today for Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’” shoutout than its legume legacy. From beans to ballads, baby.

🏗️ Notes From “Inside Rams Village At Warner Center”

Last Wednesday The Valley Economic Alliance hosted a presentation from the folks who are bringing the ambitious Rams Village project in Woodland Hills to life. I gave an overview of the Rams Village in an earlier edition and mentioned how I would be attending this presentation and, as promised, here is a summary of the notes I took.

📜 A Little History

Since 2016, the team has been bouncing between Agoura Hills and Thousand Oaks for training, but in true football fashion, they’ve decided it’s time to go long… all the way to Woodland Hills.

🏈 The Game Plan

Back in March 2022, Rams owner Stan Kroenke scooped up the Promenade site. One month later, he added the neighboring Anthem property (66 acres). And just to complete the hat trick, Topanga Village was acquired in January 2023 — totaling nearly 100 acres of prime Valley real estate. The Rams are now fully based in the SFV, and they’re not just building a training facility — they’re calling plays for an entire “live, work, and entertainment” community.

📊 Stats That Would Impress Even Fantasy Football Fans

  • 21,000 job years during construction

  • $2 billion in labor income

  • $3.93 billion assessed value

  • $22 million in positive annual fiscal impact

  • $746.6 million in total annual labor income not including any touchdowns from players' salaries

  • 8,400+ jobs annually

  • 1.95 billion in total operational economic output

(Yes, this development is basically the Travis Kelce of economic projects.)

🏙️ What’s Being Built?

  • A permanent training facility at the Anthem site (current one is modular while they get permits)

  • Five more high-rises at the Promenade site

  • A Retail Village with a grocery store, sporting goods anchor, sports bar, and a movie theater

  • Civic Plaza for events

  • Central Park (the Valley version, not the NYC one) with open green space

  • 2500-seat indoor fields + 2 outdoor fields

  • Additional 5,000- and 2,500-seat venues for concerts or community events

  • 9,000 parking spots most of which will not be completely visible

  • CLT architecture for the retail area (that’s Cross-Laminated Timber for the curious design nerds)

  • Green roofs and open space integrated across all residential buildings

  • A community room at Oxnard & Owensmouth

Oh, and that Anthem building? It’s staying. Just getting a glow-up.

🚌 Transportation & Traffic

Metro’s 601 line is getting reimagined to better serve the Warner Center area, and while the streets themselves won’t be widened, intersections will. There’s also buzz about the Orange Line eventually converting to rail, though we’re still in “wish upon a Metro” territory.

No monorail plans, but when asked about this one of the presenters did bring up the weirdly fascinating monorail history of Warner Center. I was intrigued and did a little digging and I’ll discuss in the next section.

💼 Local Biz & Housing

  • Bidding opportunities for local small businesses are being considered (keep your eyes on the Valley Economic Alliance website for updates on this)

  • 5% very low-income housing is part of the plan

  • Fry’s site (Burbank & Canoga) is still up in the air — currently for sale and rumor has it it’ll become housing + hotel

🛠️ Timeline

  • 2026: Entitlements complete

  • Training facility: Starts soon with a 2-year build

  • Promenade construction: Kicks off after that

🌳 Landscape Touch

I asked about landscaping and how they’re going to incorporate native species of trees and plants. The gave a shoutout to Mia Lehrer and Studio MLA as the team who will be designing drought-friendly landscaping that’ll incorporate native trees and plants, just like they currently do in the landscaping that surrounds the training fields. I’ll be swinging by to take a look in the near future and I’ll be sure to share photos.

The SFV 101’s Take

This project is truly exciting for a number of reasons. With it’s theater, two indoor performance venues, large park and plaza, it’ll provide a destination that will draw Angelenos from around the city and with the right kind of events, some tourists. You won’t have to drive all the way to Burbank to get your fix of retail, restaurants and entertainment. The construction will mean lots of money being spent by workers in the area and hopefully plenty of Valley businesses will have the opportunity to bid and win projects. I’m personally hoping the venue will attract some concerts from national acts since there are currently now venues in the Valley doing such (I wish the Starlight Bowl would try).

They seem to be taking the transportation impacts seriously by being proactive with Metro, but I’m not so sure 9,000 parking spots will be adequate unless they really improve the capacity of public transportation going in and out of the area. There will be 3,000 residential units and if you consider that each unit will probably get at least one space each, you’re left with 6,000 spaces. Consider that they’re building out 2 million square feet of commercial space, including retail, office, and hotel. The generally accepted ratio of parking to commercial square feet is about 4 spaces to every 1,000sq ft. So for the commercial space alone, they would need 8,000 parking spaces. So by my math, between the residential units and commercial square feet, they're about 2,000 spaces short. They also didn’t say, and I didn’t ask (dang it!), how many of those spaces will be paid use. I’m guessing most, if not all of them, and that the grocery store will validate parking. Residents in the nearby neighborhoods can expect street parking to become more scarce, especially on nights with special events.

I think there will be a challenge filling all the office space they’re building out, too, considering the challenges landlords are already facing with existing commercial space and the impacts AI will probably be having on the job market in coming years. In October of last year, the Valley Business Journal reported that office space in the SFV has a vacancy rate of 26%, up 1% from the year before. So if (and it’s a big if) the trend continues the Rams Village office space will be coming onto the market in the midst of +30% vacancy rates. I’m sure they’ll be charging premium rates for this space, too, so they’ll have their work cut out for them finding tenants.

💻 Want to nerd out more?
Check therams.com/rams-village for more details
🎯 Want a job with the Rams?
Check teamworkonline.com/football-jobs/la-rams-careers

🚝 Valley Monorail Dreams: The Transit That Ghosted Us

As was mentioned in the previous article, someone asked if a monorail was being considered for the Rams Village project and one of the people presenting mentioned an “interesting history of monorails” in the Valley. I was intrigued because I didn’t know it had been considered in the past, only that there is currently a monorail being proposed for the Sepulveda Transit Corridor project (which I’ll cover in a future edition). I did some digging and here’s a quick summary of what happened in years past.

1950s–1960s: The “Backbone Route”

In 1954, a plan emerged for a monorail running from North Hollywood through Downtown to Long Beach. This was known as the “Backbone Route,” and yes, the Valley was literally the spine of this futuristic dream.

By 1962, the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority (LAMTA) even held a groundbreaking ceremony in the Valley — photos, hard hats, the whole bit. But that’s about as far as it went. Turns out nobody had secured the legal authority or funds to actually build the thing. So the Valley got a ceremonial hole in the ground... and not much else.

1970s: Still No Dice

The idea of monorail service connecting the Valley to West LA along the Sepulveda Pass has resurfaced more times than your cousin’s failed screenplay. A 1976 ballot initiative included Valley routes as part of a bigger monorail-heavy transit system — but voters weren’t sold.

Today: Maybe This Time?

Fast forward to now, and the Sepulveda Transit Corridor is maybe flirting with monorail again. One of the options being studied is — you guessed it — a monorail zipping along the 405, connecting the Valley to the Westside. But public sentiment (and common sense) seems to lean toward building a subway instead. We’ll believe it when we see it — preferably while riding it through the Sepulveda Pass at rush hour.

🚧 Traffic Alert: Balboa & Devonshire Construction (Granada Hills)

Concrete work at the Balboa Blvd & Devonshire St intersection begins Friday, June 20 and will continue through next week, Monday–Saturday. Expect traffic disruptions and consider alternate routes while crews prep for the final phase of the project. Drive safe out there!

💧 Get a Flume Smart Water Monitor for Just $24 — But Read the Fine Print

Until July 4th, LADWP is offering eligible residential customers a Flume Smart Water Monitor for only $24 (normally $249). This device straps onto your existing water meter — no tools or plumber needed — and lets you track real-time water use, detect leaks, and even monitor which appliances are using the most water, all through a mobile app.

The catch? By participating in the program, LADWP gets access to your water usage data via the Flume platform. It's a helpful tool for conservation and leak prevention, but it also means more monitoring of your household water habits.

Think of it as a high-tech leak detector… that reports back to HQ.

🔗 Learn more or apply: ladwp.com/flume

🎟️ Win 2 Free Tickets to Laemmle NoHo 7!

Love indie films, popcorn, and free stuff? Enter to win two tickets to Laemmle NoHo 7, one of two Laemmle cinemas in the Valley. Whether you’re into foreign films, docs, or just avoiding Hollywood blockbusters, this is your chance to catch a flick on the house.
👉 Enter here — and may the most film-obsessed Valleyite win!

We’ve got two featured events on both sides of the Valley this Saturday.

🎊 The Valley BlockFest Returns — And It’s Bigger Than Ever - Saturday June 28th 2pm-8pm

Clear your calendar, stretch those legs, and maybe practice a wrestling move or two — The Valley BlockFest is back, and it’s coming in hot.

Formerly known as the Chatsworth BlockFest, this beloved outdoor street party has grown into one of the San Fernando Valley’s can’t-miss summer festivals. Spanning three full blocks of Nordhoff Street, it’s part street fair, part carnival, part vendor showcase… and yes, part professional wrestling arena (you read that right).

Expect a full day of family-friendly chaos and community celebration, with:

  • 🛍️ 200+ vendors slinging everything from handmade goods to local services

  • 🧒 A Kids Zone

  • 🍔 Food trucks and prepackaged treats to keep you fed and happy

  • 🏢 Local Businesses and brand promotions

  • 🎶 A live DJ keeping the vibes high

  • 🍹 A cocktail lounge for grown-up refreshments

  • 🤼‍♂️ Live professional wrestling, because what’s a block party without a body slam?

  • 🦸 WE CON Comic-Con Experience - Tucked inside the Valley BlockFest is WE CON, a mini comic-con hosted by We Can Be Heroes Comics, TCG, & Studio. This immersive experience brings together vendors selling comics, toys, video games, and Pokémon merch, plus celebrity and comic artist signings — with past guests from Star Wars, Power Rangers, Sons of Anarchy, and The Walking Dead.

Event Details:

  • 📍 20914 Nordhoff St., Chatsworth, CA 91311
    (Between De Soto & Eton Avenues)

  • Saturday June 28th, 2pm-8pm

  • 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Free and all ages welcome

The festival is brought to you by the Northwest Valley Chamber of Commerce, My Valley Pass, and GEC Events. This event is as local as it gets — and just the right mix of wholesome fun and over-the-top excitement.

Whether you're there for the funnel cake, the crafts, the cosplay, or the suplexes, the Valley BlockFest is shaping up to be the summer highlight you didn’t know you needed.

🌆 Summer Vibes on Artsakh: Wallflower Market L.A. Pops Up in Glendale

Looking for a summer night that checks all the boxes — local shopping, adoptable dogs, and a feel-good cause? We got you.

Wallflower Market L.A. is hosting a Summer Evening Pop-Up on Saturday, June 28, and it’s bringing the chillest Glendale energy to Artsakh Avenue.

🛍️ Expect 16 local vendors selling handcrafted treasures and creative goods — the kind of stuff you definitely won’t find at the mall. It’s the perfect place to score a unique gift or treat yourself to something special.

🐶 Bonus: There will be adorable adoptable dogs on site. So if you leave with both a candle and a corgi, we won’t judge.

💸 Plus, 10% of all vendor sales go to charity — which means your spending spree just became an act of generosity.

Event Details:

  • 📅 Saturday, June 28, 2025

  • 🕓 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM

  • 📍 117–131 N. Artsakh Ave, Glendale

  • 🎟️ Free to attend

  • 🅿️ 90 minutes of free parking

  • 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family-friendly

Whether you're on the hunt for handmade goods, a new furry friend, or just a fun evening out under the summer sky — this one’s worth the drive.

😆 Comedy

Aside from some of the regular shows being hosted at The Comedy Chateau, they’ve got a comedy festival going on this week with industry workshops for folks in the business of comedy.

🎭️Theatre and Performing Arts

  • Manecdotes: True Tales of Fatherhood at the Colony Theatre, June 24 @ 6:30 - 8:30 pm. 555 North 3rd Street Burbank

  • OPEN MIC(hael) NIGHT! Sing Karaoke accompanied by the Pianist, Arranger, Vocal Coach, and Associate Musical Director for 16 years on American Idol! Thursday, June 26, 2025 @ 7 pm 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood

📽️ Film

  • Sunset Boulevard,​ Monday, June 23, 2025 ​ 7:00pm-9:30pm ​ The Velvet Martini Lounge, 4349 Tujunga Ave, Studio City

  • Die Like a Man A Film Followed by Q&A with filmmaker Eric Nazarian Saturday, June 28, 2025 - 6:30 PM El Portal Theater 5269 Lankershim Blvd. North Hollywood

🎵 Music

  • 4 BAND SHOWCASE Monday Night, June 23, 2025 @ 7pm, 8pm, 9pm, 10pm PST. The Baked Potato 3787 Cahuenga Blvd, Studio City

  • NoHo Jams Weekly Neighborhood Jam Session Tuesday June 25th at 6pm, Lawless Brewing Company 5275 Craner Ave, North Hollywood

  • Charles Fox with an all-star band & singers will perform a special one-night event featuring his salsa, jazz, pop hits & TV themes June 24, 2025 7:30pm Vibrato Grill Jazz Club 2930 Beverly Glen Circle Los Angeles

  • 🩵 LORDE – “Virgin” Early Listening Party Wednesday, June 25 at 6PM. Be among the first to hear Lorde’s new album — only 50 wristbands available in-store only, no RSVP, first come first served! Free poster for attendees and a chance to win a signed litho! Run Out Groove Records 3208 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank

  • BLUE NOTE NIGHT WITH JOE HARLEY - Album signing. Thursday, June 26 7:00 PM, 50 wristbands available in-store only, no RSVP, first come first served! Run Out Groove Records 3208 W Magnolia Blvd, Burbank

  • Altadena Musicians Fundraiser takes over Maui Sugar Mill on Thursday, June 26 with performances by Waterloo Saints, Lights Out Levine, Rookie Card, and Elemenopy (8:30 PM) — no cover, but donations welcome!

🤷 Other

  • Join the upcoming Metro community meeting to get the latest updates on the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit (ESFV LRT) Project! Learn about the project’s progress, construction activities, real estate developments, business programs, and more.
    In-Person Meeting & Open House
    When: Thursday, June 26, 2025 | 6:00-7:30 pm
    Location: Mid- Valley Family YMCA, (6901 Lennox Ave, Van Nuys

  • Experience Language of the Cosmos, a free three-day fusion of art and science featuring performances, installations, and workshops inspired by the universe—June 27–29 at the Taxco Theatre in Canoga Park.

  • San Fernando Valley Pride returns Saturday, June 28 with a march at 11 AM (Van Nuys & Sherman Way) and a festival at 1 PM at the Van Nuys Civic Center featuring music, food, games, vendors, and family-friendly fun — learn more at SFVPride.org.

BEACH AREA WARNINGS:

  • Windward storm drain at Venice Beach - 100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.

  • Ramirez Creek at Paradise Cove - 100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

  • Castlerock Storm Drain at Topanga County Beach - 100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.

  • Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica - 100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

  • Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey - Entire swim area.

  • Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro - Entire swim area.

These warnings have been issued due to bacterial levels exceeding health standards when last tested.

 BEACH AREAS NOW CLEARED:

Warnings have been lifted for the following beach areas where recent sample results identified water quality levels within State standards:

  • The Bel Air Bay Club at Will Rogers State Beach