JAMES BROCK, LEED™ AP, President

Mr. Brock has been preparing EIRs, MNDs and other documentation for development projects in the greater Los Angeles County area since 1981. Currently, Mr. Brock is working on projects ranging from a mixed-use development along the Santa Monica Boulevard corridor of Hollywood that will integrate rental housing with creative, entertainment industry oriented commercial space, a major distribution center south of downtown Los Angeles, a corporate headquarters relocation in Chatsworth and a transit oriented, high-density residential project in the Wilshire Corridor.

James recently completed the EIR for the Ambassador West project in Pasadena.  The project includes most of the former West Campus of Ambassador College, a landmark site with numerous historic buildings and landscape features.  This was the third project proposed for this property over the past six years, and EPA (under Mr. Brock) was retained by the City of Pasadena to prepare the EIR for each proposal (the two previous proposals encompassed all of the former West and East Campuses under ownership by the Worldwide Church of God). 

Mr. Brock also recently completed the EIR for Sierra Canyon Secondary School, the first new non-religious private high school in the San Fernando Valley in 20 years, and completed expanded MND’s for two noteworthy downtown Los Angeles residential projects.  The 167-unit 850 S. Hill Street Residential Project will be located adjacent to the historic Eastern Columbia building and the 393 unit 1500/1360 Figueroa Street Residential Project would develop two high-rise residential towers across the street from the Los Angeles Convention Center. Mr. Brock is also currently serving as a sustainability advisor to the project.  Mr. Brock provided a technical report to support an MND for The Alhambra Residential Community, a 351-unit development by The Ratkovich Co. on the Alhambra Campus in the City of Alhambra (and is currently serving as a sustainability advisor for that project), provided services in support of an MND for Buena Vista Lofts, a 152-unit adaptive reuse project in the Boyle Heights community of Los Angeles, and an MND for the University of Southern California Parkside Apartments Phase 2 student housing project.  Other recent projects include an expanded MND for the Los Angeles Fashion Center, a new wholesale apparel mart in the garment district of Downtown Los Angeles and he is currently involved with a number of high density residential and adaptive reuse projects in downtown Los Angeles.  Mr. Brock’s experience also includes preparing EIRs for other historic sites as Saint Vibiana’s Cathedral and Union Station and Terminal Annex in Downtown Los Angeles.

Other notable experience includes participation on the Los Angeles Dodgers NFL Stadium Feasibility Study Team, preparation of an EIR for the recently constructed 2 million square foot Port of Los Angeles Distribution Center in San Pedro and preparation of an EIR for the 479-unit Villa Venetia development at the entry to the Marina del Rey main channel in the County of Los Angeles. He has prepared expanded MNDs for redevelopment of the former Hughes Missiles Systems site in the West Hills area with the West Hills Corporate Village, a major business park developed with assistance from the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, and a new campus for the DeVry Institute of Technology, and an expanded MND for Bel-Air Country Club’s state-of-the-art practice facility. Mr. Brock continues to provide CEQA expertise for projects ranging from retail and residential developments in the Central Coast area to historic properties in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles.  His experience includes numerous retail, residential, hotel, office and light industrial projects of regional or local note.

Mr. Brock also provides project management and strategic assistance services, as well as expert review for projects facing legal challenges on environmental grounds. He has been a guest lecturer on CEQA issues for a number of law firms and for UCLA and USC extension courses on development and planning. 

In addition to his 26 years as an environmental planning professional, Mr. Brock is accredited by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) professional and advises clients on potential green building strategies for new projects.   Specifically, Mr. Brock is introducing his clients to the LEED process, many for the first time, during site planning, environmental review, entitlement and design stages of projects, assembling the most qualified LEED team to meet the individual needs of a specific project.  Wherever possible, Mr. Brock facilitates incorporation of specific green building features into the environmental review and entitlement stages of a project, to ensure that a decision-maker is fully informed on sustainable features and approaches, prior to taking action on a project.  With green building requirements pending or adopted for many California cities and counties, this experience, coupled with his planning and environmental review background, is invaluable.  Mr. Brock is a Board member of the US Green Building Council Los Angeles where he serves as the Co-Chair for Government Affairs and served as Outreach Co-Chair for Greenbuild 2007 Los Angeles, before the event was moved to Chicago.  He also serves as a representative for the Los Angeles Chapter to the USGBC Pacific Regional Council.  Mr. Brock worked closely with Los Angeles Business Council (LABC) in planning of their inaugural Sustainability Summit in July 2007 and together with the LABC, has been very involved with the City of Los Angeles in the development of the City’s green building policy.  In addition, Mr. Brock serves on the Advisory Board to Gaia Development Services which is currently taking over 4 million square feet of buildings through the LEED process for clients including Watson Land Company, W Hotels and Residences, Nature’s Best and the Port of Long Beach.   Mr. Brock also serves as an ad hoc strategic advisor to AC Propulsion (ACP), a San Dimas based company that is the industry leader in technologically advanced power systems and products for electric and hybrid vehicles.  In addition to these activities, Mr. Brock is an active member of the Urban Land Institute, the Association of Environmental Professionals and the Westside Urban Forum.