The RFQ is the first step toward creating up to 3.2 million square feet of residential and commercial development on the parcels, which are adjacent to the recently opened Walt Disney Concert Hall on Bunker Hill. The Grand Avenue Authority describes the land as "one of the most significant real estate opportunities anywhere in the U.S. today." Martha Welborne, managing director of the Grand Avenue Committee, a private non-profit entity charged with implementing the Grand Ave plan, says the group seeks to "remake Grand Avenue into a vital and compelling heart for the city."

The authority has set a deadline of 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, for developers to answer the request for qualifications, which is available for download from grandavenuecommittee.org

.David Malmuth, development consultant to the Grand Avenue Committee, says the project is expected to attract local, regional and national developers. Responses to the RFQ will be reviewed by the Grand Avenue Committee, which was formed in 2000 and is chaired by developer James A. Thomas and co-chaired by business leader Eli Broad. Three to five teams will be selected in December to move to the next phase, which will require crafting a specific financial and design plan under the guidelines of a Request for Proposal. The board of the Los Angeles Grand Avenue Authority has the final decision on the selection of firms.

The Grand Avenue parcels are envisioned as the site of a host of residential and commercial uses to serve Los Angeles' local population and downtown's more than 11 million annual visitors. Public improvements will be made throughout the Grand Avenue project area, such as tree-shaded sidewalks with new lighting, benches and kiosks. The plan is expected to produce up to 900,000 sf of residential, 500,000 sf of hotel, 1 million of office space, 300,000 square feet of entertainment and 250,000 sf of retail and restaurants.