Girls Academic Learning Academy Campus Reconfiguration and Upgrade Project
Summary
SCH Number
2025020663
Public Agency
Los Angeles Unified School District
Document Title
Girls Academic Learning Academy Campus Reconfiguration and Upgrade Project
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
2/20/2025
Document Description
The proposed Project will provide upgrades and alterations to facilities at the Girls Academic Leadership Academy (GALA, formerly known as Frank Lanterman High School). The Project includes the demolition and removal of three (3) existing relocatable classroom buildings and the installation of nine (9) classrooms, support spaces, and restrooms in relocatable buildings. The Project also includes minor interior improvements in existing classrooms. Associated landscape, hardscape, parking adjustments, security improvements, and infrastructure upgrades including, but not limited to, sanitary sewer, water, storm water, and electrical utilities (Figure 1). The Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education approved the Project's budget of $33,047,367 on September 12, 2023.
The Project will be implemented per all applicable State, federal, and local regulations, as well as all District Standards and Specifications; such as those provided in the updated Standard Conditions of Approval for District Construction, Upgrade, and Improvements Projects (SCs) as adopted by the Board of Education in December 2023. LAUSD’s SCs, design guidelines, and best management practices are designed to be incorporated into the Project design in order to avoid or limit potential adverse impacts associated with the District’s projects.
The beneficiaries of this Project are the GALA students, faculty, staff, families, school supporters, and the community at large who may request access to the facilities and grounds of the Campus pursuant to the Civic Center Act (CA Ed. Code Sections 38130 - 38139).
Contact Information
Name
Christy Wong
Agency Name
Los Angeles Unified School District
Job Title
CEQA Project Manager
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Cities
Los Angeles
Counties
Los Angeles
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
The Girls Academic Learning Academy Campus Reconfiguration and Upgrade Project (Project) will be located on the approximately 5.2-acre Girls Academic Learning Academy campus (GALA or Campus), located at 2328 Saint James Place in the City of Los Angeles. It is bound by West 23rd Avenue and Mount Saint Mary’s University to the north, Mount Saint Mary’s University to the east, Saint James Park West to the south, and residential uses and Saint James Park to the west. The Project will occur across the Campus. The Campus is located in an urbanized community primarily consisting of commercial uses, multi-family, and single-family residences.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15301, 15302, 15303, 15314
Reasons for Exemption
Section 15301 Existing Facilities
Class 1 consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency's determination.
The Project includes the demolition and removal of three (3) existing relocatable classroom buildings and the installation of nine (9) classrooms, support spaces, and restrooms in relocatable buildings. The Project also includes minor interior improvements in existing classrooms. Associated landscape, hardscape, parking adjustments, security improvements, and infrastructure upgrades including, but not limited to, sanitary sewer, water, storm water, and electrical utilities will also be included. The Project would constitute operation, repair, maintenance, and minor alteration of existing public structures involving no expansion of the facilities’ use. Therefore, the Project constitutes minor alterations to an existing school site that result in no expansion of use and meets the requirements of CEQA Guidelines Section 15301.
Section 15302 - Replacement or Reconstruction
Class 2 consists of replacing or reconstructing existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced.
This Project includes the installation of relocatable buildings, and associated landscape, hardscape, parking adjustments, security improvements, and infrastructure upgrades. The Project will not result in an increase or alteration of the current use, function, or capacity of the existing Campus. Therefore, the Project meets the requirements of CEQA Guidelines Section 15302.
Section 15303 New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures
Class 3 consists of construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made to the structure.
This Project includes the installation of nine classrooms, support spaces, and restrooms in relocatable buildings and associated landscape, hardscape, parking adjustments, security improvements, and infrastructure upgrades on the Campus. These improvements constitute operation, repair, maintenance and minor alteration of an existing campus involving no expansion in enrollment or of the facilities’ use. Therefore, the Project satisfies the requirements of CEQA Guidelines Section 15303.
Section 15314 – Minor Additions to Schools
Class 14 consists of minor additions to existing schools within existing school grounds where the addition does not increase original student capacity by more than 25% or ten classrooms, whichever is less. The addition of portable classrooms is included in this exemption.
The Project entails the installation of nine classrooms, support spaces, and restrooms in relocatable buildings and associated landscape, hardscape, parking adjustments, security improvements, and infrastructure upgrades on an existing campus. The Project will neither increase the original student capacity by more than 25% or ten classrooms. Therefore, the Project satisfies the requirements of CEQA Guidelines Section 15314.
County Clerk
Los Angeles
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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