The Planning Commission of the City of Los Angeles approved in April 2013 the development of a 20-year facility plan for Marymount California University’s residential campus located at 1600 Palos Verdes Dive North. Currently this university location provides student residential living in 86 townhomes and offers recreational space for basketball, volleyball and a pavilion for student events.
The University is planning to develop a five-phase undergraduate and graduate campus at this site to serve 1,500 students, with 847 of those students also living in residence. Included in the plan is a dining facility, classrooms, laboratories, studios, maintenance facility and administrative offices.
“The San Pedro Residential Campus master plan centers on developing a small college campus where students will live, attend classes and study,” said Dr. Brophy. “Projects will be completed in steps over the duration of 20 years. First steps will include the construction of an aesthetically pleasing parking lot to curtail street parking on Palos Verdes Drive North, as well as a maintenance facility, and upgrading the existing townhomes to accommodate the growing need for student housing.”
Subsequent steps include the construction of student facilities, a dining commons a dining commons and recreational features, and eventually new residential units built in the iconic “California Craftsman” style.
Before seeking the City of Los Angeles approval for this development, the University sought the input and approval of the Northwest San Pedro Neighborhood Council, the Harbor City Neighborhood Council, in community-invited forums and discussed at the Central San Pedro Neighborhood Council. In all cases, the plans were met with enthusiasm for the development of a college campus in San Pedro.
“While the origins of Marymount California University will always be its Rancho Palos Verdes campus, we are truly excited about our presence in San Pedro and all that this wonderful community has to offer,” said Dr. Brophy. “As our University continues to advance, cooperation and collaboration with our communities will remain central to Marymount’s success.”
