By Stephen Witt
Editor’s Note: This is the third in a series of stories about Whiteman Airport.
A comprehensive economic assessment commissioned by a Pacoima-based community development organization projects that redeveloping Whiteman Airport into a mixed-use community could generate more than $16.4 million in annual revenue for Los Angeles County and the City of Los Angeles—more than eight times what the airport currently produces.
The 184-acre county-owned property, which currently employs 273 workers and generates approximately $1.8 million in net annual revenue, could support more than 2,400 jobs with annual earnings approaching $138 million if converted to a campus featuring film production facilities, life sciences companies, technology firms, light industry, retail development, and affordable housing, according to the updated study released in June 2025.
The report, prepared by economic development consultant Ricardo Noguera for Initiating Change in Our Neighborhoods (ICON) CDC, presents a detailed redevelopment blueprint that reserves 20 acres for emergency services while transforming the remaining acreage into what proponents call a revenue-generating economic engine for one of the Valley’s most underserved communities.
Life Sciences Industry Shows Strong Growth Potential
The updated assessment focused particularly on two major industries: life sciences and film production. While the film industry has faced recent challenges, the life sciences sector continues to show robust growth potential in the San Fernando Valley.
Dr. Chander Arora, Biotechnology Program Director at LA Mission College, told the consultant that 70 percent of students in the college’s biotech program come from the Pacoima community. The program boasts a 98 percent placement rate and partnerships with 24 leading biotechnology companies in the region.
“In just one semester, our students step from the classroom into careers—thanks to a 98 percent placement rate and partnerships with 24 leading biotech industries,” Dr. Arora said in the report. “This isn’t just education; it’s a launch pad for the future of science.”
The study proposes setting aside 20 acres for pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies. Such development could create 436 jobs with an average annual salary of $78,000, resulting in a total of $34 million in employee earnings. The projected property value of $174 million would produce approximately $2.6 million in annual property taxes, according to the analysis.
Southern California represents the fifth-largest life sciences sector in the United States, with major players including Abbott Laboratories, Medtronic, and Instil Bio already operating facilities in the San Fernando Valley. The region’s proximity to UCLA, USC, and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center strengthens its position as a life sciences hub.
Film Industry Faces Headwinds But Remains Viable
The report acknowledges significant challenges facing the film industry, including a more than 20 percent drop in studio production between 2024 and 2025, according to data from FilmLA. The 2023 actors’ strike, combined with increased competition from Canada, the United Kingdom, and other states, has hit Southern California’s film sector hard.
Despite these setbacks, the San Fernando Valley continues to see film industry investment. Quixote Studios currently operates 300,000 square feet in Pacoima, employing over 100 workers at an average annual salary of $100,000. The company has expressed interest in expanding to the Whiteman site if redevelopment moves forward.
“This company alone generates more in revenue and higher-paying jobs than the private industry leasing space at Whiteman Airport,” the report states.
The study proposes allocating 20 acres for film production facilities, which could support 218 jobs with average salaries of $70,000. Tyler Kramer, Vice President of Real Estate for Hudson Pacific Properties, told the consultant that a studio development could reasonably comprise 12 to 25 acres supporting six to twelve sound stages.
The San Fernando Valley currently represents 35 percent of certified sound stages in the Los Angeles region, and industry experts interviewed for the study said there are few remaining undeveloped sites available for studio expansion.
Diversified Development Strategy
The redevelopment plan envisions a diverse economic ecosystem designed to withstand downturns in individual sectors:
Light Industry (30 acres): Could support 326 jobs with average annual salaries of $32,000, generating $10.4 million in total earnings. Projected property value of $196 million would yield approximately $2.9 million in annual property taxes. The industrial market in LA County currently has vacancy rates below 2 percent, with average asking rents at all-time highs.
Computer/Software (20 acres): Would create 436 jobs averaging $90,000 annually, producing $39 million in total earnings. Recent partnerships between California and Apple have committed more than $50 million to support computer science programs at Cal State universities, creating a pipeline for local talent.
Retail (20 acres): Could employ 1,090 workers and generate approximately $400,000 in annual sales tax revenue. The study envisions a “lifestyle center” mixing entertainment, dining, and shopping similar to recent redevelopment plans for the nearby Panorama Mall.
Housing (13 acres): The plan reserves space for 900 to 1,200 units of mixed affordable and workforce housing at densities between 75 and 100 units per acre. Four affordable housing developers—including Meta Housing Development and LA Family Housing—expressed interest in participating in the project.
Educational Pipeline for Local Residents
A key component of the redevelopment vision involves connecting local residents to new employment opportunities through existing educational programs at LA Mission College and Cal State Northridge.
LA Mission College offers short-term certificate programs in biotechnology that can be completed in as little as 16 weeks, with students often receiving job offers from the college’s 24 industry partners. The college’s theater and multimedia programs prepare students for careers in the growing film and entertainment sector.
Cal State Northridge’s Cinema and Television Arts program maintains extensive relationships with studios, networks, and production companies. The university’s Computer Science program is participating in a $50 million state initiative with Apple to create pathways for Latino and minority students into technology careers.
“Attracting life science companies to a ‘Reuse Whiteman Airport campus’ will undoubtedly reduce the commute for local residents while creating good paying and quality employment,” the report states.
Financial Projections and Ground Lease Structure
The economic analysis recommends Los Angeles County retain ownership of the land while offering long-term ground leases ranging from 50 to 99 years to developers and end-user businesses. At a proposed rate of 25 cents per square foot, the county could generate approximately $1.2 million annually in ground lease revenue alone.
Breaking down the revenue projections:
- Total Property Tax Income: $14.8 million annually
- Ground Lease Revenue: $1.2 million annually
- Sales Tax Revenue: $400,000 annually (retail sector)
- Total Annual Revenue: $16.4 million
This compares to the airport’s current annual net operating revenue of $1.8 million.
The study projects total employee earnings across all sectors would reach approximately $138 million annually—more than seven times the current airport payroll of $19 million.
Industry Expert Perspectives
Real estate and industry professionals interviewed for the study expressed strong interest in the redevelopment potential.
Chris Jackson, CEO of NAI Capital Commercial in Encino, whose firm represents more than 4 million square feet of space in LA County, said light industrial and manufacturing properties are at an all-time low in terms of vacancies, with less than 1 percent availability.
“There is not enough land in the valley to support industrial growth and as it becomes available it is absorbed,” Jackson said. “Demand for industrially-zoned land continues and will be so for many years to come.”
Mark Schurgin, President of Festival Companies, which owns more than 40 shopping centers in California, estimated that a 250,000- to 300,000-square-foot retail development could generate as much as $1 million annually in sales tax revenues and create more than 750 jobs.
Next Steps and Considerations
The report acknowledges that redevelopment would require approval from the LA County Board of Supervisors to decommission and close the airport. Any such decision would need to balance the interests of current airport users—approximately 600 private plane owners—against potential community benefits.
The study recommends recruiting a master developer to manage long-term ground leases and coordinate sublease arrangements with various developers and end users across the mixed-use campus. This approach would allow the county to maintain ownership while benefiting from development expertise and private investment.
“Redevelopment of the airport will not only improve health and safety conditions but deliver much-needed affordable and workforce housing, create a few thousand jobs, and much-needed revenues for the City of LA and LA County,” the report concludes.
The Whiteman Airport debate represents a broader question facing urban communities: how to balance existing uses of public land with evolving community needs and economic development opportunities. As the San Fernando Valley continues to grow and transform, the future of the 184-acre airport property remains a contentious issue that will likely be decided through ongoing community dialogue and political processes.
County officials have not yet announced any timeline for decisions regarding the airport’s future.
Comments 3
Dear Mr. Whitt,
This piece is a fine testament to the freedom to exercise free speech. Unfortunately, like the unwarranted yelling of “FIRE” in a packed movie theatre, not all speech needs to be published, and whether the editor works for a major book publisher or a local website, discretion is often the rule that determines the respect earned and the success achieved.
The possible features illustrated in this article could be built anywhere in the County with no change in merit. The point to remember is that none of those opportunities need to replace an airport in order to be successful. And regarding fiscal determination, just what value can be put on saving lives and personal property?
Whiteman Airport serves not only pilot safety community programing but County wide emergency protection. Is that hyperbole? Just look at the flight tracks out of Whiteman during the recent LA fires! Area police, County firefighters, the Civil Air Patrol, the public press, and even the secret service operate out of Whiteman.
It is not only an FAA NAS necessary designated reliver airport, but, like Hawthorne Airport, Whiteman will offer the future foundation allowing quiet eVtol taxi operations that will benefit the region. Maybe you noticed the results felt nationwide when both major and general aviation airport activity was restricted?
The businesses you wrote about could be built in locations all over the county, but building a new airport is probably not an option. First, people spoke of building a park at Whiteman, others spoke of housing, and you mentioned a film business sound stage company. If there is a small cadre of folks complaining of noise now, just what do you think those new residents will express when the county firefighting helicopter noise is combined with the Union Pacific train whistles? And just how many lives will be saved by anything you mentioned? Oh yes. You predicted 2400 jobs. Maybe you might illustrate where 2400 cars that will create traffic congestion and unhealthy emissions will park?
Ron Berinstein
Southern California Aviation United Working Group
My apology… Please edit the unintentional misspelling of your name. “Whitt” should read “Witt,” Thank you.
It’s disheartening to see Whiteman Airport targeted by a coalition of activists and developers with clear financial motivations. Pacoima Beautiful receives $3.5 million annually from the Bezos Earth Fund, and the loudest voices in this debate seem to be developers eyeing the acreage for light industry and tech infrastructure. The fact that a handful of protest signs could trigger serious consideration of bulldozing one of Southern California’s most vital aviation gateways is astonishing.
Whiteman isn’t just an airport—it’s an educational institution, a firefighting resource, and a launchpad for aviation careers. Its closure would be a blow to the San Fernando Valley’s access to general aviation, emergency response, and youth engagement in aerospace. We cannot simply push more traffic into Van Nuys and expect safety and accessibility to hold.
I hope pilots, the AOPA, and the broader aviation community rally to protect KWHP. Its continued operation is essential—not just for pilots, but for the future of aviation in Los Angeles.
Whiteman Airport isn’t just a patch of pavement, it’s a vital community asset