Michael Gonzales, senior counsel in the firm's Los Angeles office, focuses his practice in real estate, land use and entitlements, and redevelopment. Michael's practice also encompasses affordable housing, density bonus law, historical resources, local sustainable development compliance, and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance.
Michael has significant experience in developing entitlement strategies and obtaining entitlements for a range of commercial and residential projects in numerous Southern California jurisdictions. Projects include entertainment venues, restaurants, hotels, and urban in-fill mixed use projects. Michael is adept at managing the entitlement process, including overseeing technical consultants, negotiating with government agencies and officials, and, at times, negotiating with community groups.
Michael is very familiar with the process surrounding CEQA compliance, including environmental impact reports, negative declarations and initial studies. He advises clients on state land use laws, including CEQA, the Subdivision Map Act, and the California Redevelopment law.
Michael has significant experience conducting due diligence review of land use issues, including local zoning ordinances, redevelopment plans and related issues. He has also drafted numerous redevelopment agreements for both commercial and residential transactions, loan agreements, ground leases, easement agreements, and development agreements.
Michael also has substantial land use and related development experience conducting due diligence review for lenders in connection with determinations to foreclose on troubled assets. Similarly, Michael has substantial experience conducting due diligence review in connection with the acquisition of troubled assets by investment funds, developers and other private entities.
Representative Projects:
- Acquisition due diligence and post acquisition assistance with the modification of entitlements for a 146-unit multi-family residential project.
- Obtaining entitlements, including a zone change, height and setback variances, and tentative tract map for a 95-unit mixed multi-family and commercial project.
- Obtaining entitlements, including a zone change, a conditional use permit, and parking structure variances for a 130-room luxury boutique hotel with rooftop entertainment area.
- Obtaining a conditional use permit for an approximately 35,000 square foot multi-story entertainment and restaurant facility.
- Obtaining a conditional use permit for an approximately 13,000 square foot nightclub in Hollywood.
- Due diligence analysis of a large master planned subdivision in connection with a lender's decision to foreclose on the asset.
- Due diligence analysis of a 350-unit multiple structure multi-family asset in connection with a lender's decision to foreclose on the asset.
- Due diligence analysis of a 180-unit subdivision in connection with a private party's note acquisition.
Professional Activities/Memberships:
- Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce – Co-Chair of the Land Use, Construction and Housing Committee
- Los Angeles Business Council’s – Solar Working Group
- Central City Association – Executive Committee Member
- Los Angeles Legal Aid Foundation's – Associates Advisory Board
- International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
- State Bar of California
- Los Angeles County Bar Association
Publications:
- “Getting Your Hands on EZ Money,” California Real Estate Journal, April 6, 2009
- “Opportunity to Recover Excess L.A. Park Fees, ” California Real Estate Journal, May 5, 2008
- “The Fallout from Global Climate Change: Trickle Down Regulation in California, ” California Real Estate Journal, September 29, 2008
Speaking Engagements:
- “Fundamentals of Real Estate Development,” California Redevelopment Association, May 3, 2010
- “Dust Off Those Proformas: Finding Hidden Asset Value,“ Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP, November 18, 2009
- “Fundamentals of Commercial Real Property Practice,“ Continuing Education of the Bar, May 29, 2009
