David Chernik

Playa Vista is one of the largest and most visible Brownfield development projects in the country. At 1100 acres, it is the largest underway in Los Angeles. When complete, Playa will include 350 acres of restored wetlands, 20,000 new residential units, and over 1 million square feet of commercial-industrial work space. Given the complex industrial history of the site, it has been understood for a long time that some level of cleanup would be needed before any new development could proceed.

Such a large and important project has high visibility in the community, as it should. What we needed, then, as developers, was an environmental consultant that not only understands the regulatory requirements appropriate to the site but that also knows how to develop a solution that will pass muster in a litigation-prone, sometimes emotionally charged atmosphere. We needed a consultant who could analyze the issues, evaluate our liability and develop a site-specific plan that would be practical as well as health protective. For the sake of efficiency and continuity, the same consultant would be tasked with securing agency approval of the plan, explaining its admittedly complex issues and approaches to the general public so they could comfortably back it, and then executing the plan on an accelerated schedule.

Integrated is that consultant.

Based on the recommendation of another Playa Vista PRP, we asked Integrated to take over the environmental management of the site. Incredibly, they responded almost immediately with an ingenious, risk-based strategy that has won the regulator's respect and approval. Showing superb leadership and deft public relations, Integrated has almost single-handedly turned the project around. They have increased our interaction with the lead agency from about once a quarter to several times a week, thus greatly improving communication and facilitating the site review and approval process. They have enhanced the project's negotiating stance by presenting logical, scientifically sound interpretations and plans, so that we now bargain from a position of strength. They are a tremendous asset to project management during the day-to-day dealings on high-stakes issues and, by streamlining field operations, have already saved the project $2 to 3 million.

We are now on schedule and on budget. The environmental side of the project, instead of lagging behind, is now proactively leading the way.

Integrated's solid approach is financially sound, technically practical, scientifically defensible and socially responsible. Their proactive management style is a refreshing change from the industry norm, as is their responsiveness to client needs. Their services are highly respected and requested in all quarters of the project.