Edward J. Casey

Partner,

Los Angeles

Phone: +1 213 576 1005
Email: ed.casey@alston.com

Advising a variety of clients in residential, retail and commercial development, Ed handles every facet of the entitlement process, from pre-acquisition due diligence to permitting, and he has prosecuted and defended CEQA and other land use lawsuits for a number of major development projects. He also guides clients through water supply issues arising from development projects.

Entitlement Experience

Providing CEQA review and entitlement strategy to a national real estate developer for projects throughout Southern California, including one of the largest mixed-use (1,200 residential units and 300,000 sq. ft. of commercial space), transit-oriented development projects in the City of Los Angeles, to be located adjacent to one of the city’s new rail station.
Providing CEQA advice and entitlement strategy for multiple developers of major residential and mixed-use projects throughout the City and County of Los Angeles.
Representing Southern California Edison in decommissioning the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (“SONGS”) in San Diego County, including CEQA and Coastal Act advice. Also represents this major utility on CEQA and other environmental matters for a variety of projects for projects throughout Southern California.
Represented the developer of a retail center in securing all necessary entitlements for a project located in coastal zone in the City of Long Beach.
Represented the developer of the “Grand Avenue Project,” a large residential, hotel, and commercial project in downtown Los Angeles, including securing CEQA clearance from multiple Los Angeles agencies.
Representing developers of new and redeveloped movie studio projects in Los Angeles.
Representing the real estate development affiliate of a national movie theater chain in development projects throughout Southern California, including Hollywood.
Represented the developers of the new Broad Art Museum and expanded Autry Museum in Los Angeles in securing CEQA clearance and other land use approvals.
Secured the re-approval of the Flower Market Project in downtown Los Angeles. The site is currently the Southern California Flower Market, which is owned by an organization of families whose ancestors began the Flower Market in 1912. The project will consolidate the existing Flower Market and develop a new mixed-use center with housing.

Land Use Litigation Experience

Secured trial and appellate court victories defending litigation filed against the “Cumulus” project by, among others, a group supporting a high-profile voter initiative calling for a citywide building moratorium.
Defended the “Martin Cadillac” project before the trial court and court of appeal, upholding the general plan amendment for an 800,000 sq. ft. mixed-use, transit-oriented project in the Westside of Los Angeles. The Court of Appeal ruled that the City has the power to issue general plan amendments for a single project.
Defended the entitlements for the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza Master Plan Project in an ongoing litigation under CEQA and the Fair Housing Act. The Project will redevelop the existing Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza on the approximate 43-acre site. The project will add a total of approximately 2.06 million sq. ft. of development, including 820,000 sq. ft. of commercial space, 961 residential units (including affordable housing), 331,838 sq. ft. of retail and related commercial uses, a 400-room hotel, and 143,377 sq. ft. of office space.
Represented A Community of Friends, a nonprofit housing agency, in upholding approval of an affordable housing project in Los Angeles by defeating a challenge to the project made under CEQA. The project, which was opposed by an adjacent property owner, will develop a 100 percent affordable housing project with units set aside for low-income families, homeless people, and veterans, including for those afflicted with mental health illnesses.
Represented the developer of the largest mixed-use project in the Westside of Los Angeles (Playa Vista), which is comprised of 2,600 residential units, 150,000 square feet of retail and other commercial uses. Secured appellate and trial court decisions upholding the EIR for the project.
Representing Westfield, an international shopping center developer, in various land use lawsuits throughout California, including Los Angeles, Arcadia, San Diego, and Santa Clarita.
Represented the Autry Museum, a major Los Angeles museum, in CEQA and Brown Act-related litigation. Secured multiple trial and appellate court decisions that allowed the Autry to use a multimillion-dollar grant from the state to renovate its Griffith Park facility.
Secured a trial court victory for Wynkoop Properties in land use litigation challenging a hotel and residential project in Venice, CA.

Edward J. Casey

Entitlement Experience

Land Use Litigation Experience

Bar Admissions

Education