NHSC Home Depot Issues

Assuming that HD loses its Van Nuys lease on June 30th, 2025, then most of its traffic will be added to the proposed North Hills store.  As a result, the site will have the following problems and impacts on the surrounding neighborhood, schools and businesses:

1. Significantly more traffic, adversely affecting the NHSC & nearby businesses:  The Van Nuys store's traffic (when compared to the current NHSC) is roughly 6 times higher in the morning and 3 times higher in the afternoon.  Currently, it can take 2 to 4 minutes to exit the NHSC during morning or afternoon rush hours, without the additional HD traffic.  The center turning lanes are also frequently at capacity.  As a result, traffic will back up in the HD parking lot, and on Devonshire & Balboa, restricting access to adjacent businesses.

2. More Big Rigs & trucks:  An HD store will have a far higher volume of 18-wheeler big rigs than the current stores and theater.  Between 2 to 6 big rigs visit the Van Nuys store per day.  Additionally, 10% of HD traffic are trucks that are significantly larger than full-sized SUVs or panel vans, increasing exhaust emissions (see No.5 below).

3. Not enough parking:  The Van Nuys store has 590 parking spaces.  Of those, 55 are permanently used by rental equipment and bags of sand, while another 15 or so are used by day laborers and contractors looking for work.  On busy days, most of the Van Nuys spaces are taken.  The proposed larger NHSC store will have a 33% fewer parking spaces on a lot that is also 33% smaller.  This will increase vehicle wait-times & exhaust emissions.

4. Insufficient entry & exit access:  The Van Nuys HD has two 3-lane wide stoplights, plus the 1,100 foot-long Balboa Place which holds traffic waiting to exit onto Roscoe or Balboa.  The NHSC has no entry/exit stoplights, no additional road to hold waiting traffic, and will have only two, 2-lane exits onto Devonshire.  This is because the "3rd" exit onto Devonshire (by the Chase Bank Building) is to be used for big rigs.  It is a restricted area at the other three San Fernando Valley HD stores.  Therefore, it cannot be counted on for customer traffic.

5. Increased noise and air pollution:  The traffic at the Van Nuys HD store typically has 10% more trucks than the NHSC, which typically have far larger engines than in passenger vehicles.  Store operations also will begin before 6 AM with the arrival of deliveries and staff and continue until closing at 10PM.  The truck route will place big rigs just a few feet away from the existing homes south and east of the parking lot.  All of this will significantly increase the noise and air pollution for the homes and school adjacent to the facility.

6. Increased risk to pedestrians & hundreds of students on foot:  There are 5 schools within ¼ mile of the intersection of Balboa and Devonshire.  Hundreds of K-12 students cross Balboa & Devonshire during the morning and afternoon rush hours.  Granada Hills kindergarten students typically make it across the Devonshire & Amestoy intersection with 1 to 4 seconds to spare before the light changes.   Additionally, Devonshire & Balboa is already one of the most dangerous intersections in the San Fernando Valley.  All of this  increases the risk of a student-vehicle accident.

7. Potential overcrowding if the Day Laborer Center is moved to the NHSC:  HD's NHSC plans show they are retaining two stores next to the AutoZone store (Tenants O & P) with 31 parking spots, even though HD is desperately short on parking.  HD may have done this to provide a relocation site for the Day Labor Center.  If this does occur, it will further increase overcrowding at the site.  

8. Potentially negative impact on First Responders:  The Los Angeles Fire Department's Station 87 is at the southwest corner of the NHSC and north-bound Balboa traffic frequently backs up near the station during the morning and afternoon rush hours.

9. Increased danger to bike riders:  The east-bound Devonshire bike lane is slated to be the primary location for all three dedicated entry/exit points, increasing the risk of a vehicle-bike accident.