Sources at both LA-based Maguire Properties and Chicago-basedEquity Office Corp. confirmed late Monday that Equity Office--thenation's biggest owner of commercial office property--has agreed topay about $28 million for a 6.5-acre parcel inside Playa Vista.

The controversial Playa Vista project, which covers nearly 1,100acres in the pricey Marina area of West LA, would be the largestinfill project in LA County history. It has been in the works formore than two decades, but has been stalled over the past severalyears by opponents who say the development will kill-off severalspecies of endangered birds and other wildlife that depend on thearea's wetlands for their lives.

"I can't speak for the birds, but this is a tremendousopportunity" for both Equity Office and Maguire Properties, asource familiar with the transaction tells GlobeSt.com.