by Brianna Crandall — September 24, 2014—On September 15, University of Southern California officials and students, and Los Angeles civic leaders and community members, joined to break ground and provide the first preview of the USC Village project, including construction timeline, cost and scope of the development, confirmed tenants, architectural drawings, and other news. The Trojan Marching Band also helped celebrate what is considered the most significant development project in recent history for USC and South Los Angeles.
Replacing the nearly 50-year-old University Village, the new USC Village will be a student residential and community-serving retail center covering 15 acres on the north side of the USC University Park Campus. Tree-lined entrances will lead to a central plaza with outdoor dining and a fountain surrounded by shops, cafés and a market. A cluster of five-story residence halls and a clock tower in the “Collegiate Gothic” architectural style will rise above USC Village, housing up to 2,700 of USC’s top students under the mentorship of senior faculty masters.
On September 17, the university announced that the first confirmed new tenant for USC Village is Trader Joe’s, a 12,700-square-foot specialty grocery store that will serve students and neighbors beginning fall 2017. Although the chain was founded in 1958 in the Los Angeles area and now includes more than 400 stores in 40 states, the USC Village Trader Joe’s will be the closest location for residents of downtown Los Angeles, where many USC students, faculty and staff reside.
Besides Trader Joe’s, the complex will include a drugstore, fitness center, Trojan Town USC store, restaurants and outdoor dining, parking and a community room. Bank of America and Starbucks are among the returning tenants.
The university says it will accomplish this project without any public subsidies or taxpayer funds. In August, the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Foundation, chaired by USC Trustee Kathleen Leavey McCarthy, donated $30 million to create the Honors Hall at the new USC Village, significantly boosting the funding drive. USC will provide more than $40 million in community benefits, including up to $20 million to a city-managed affordable housing fund. USC will fund a law clinic, a small business adviser and ombudsmen. The project is expected to create thousands of permanent jobs and temporary construction jobs at USC, already the largest private employer in Los Angeles.
