P
rimestor Development targets neighborhoods the mainstream real‑estate market often ignores, aiming to breathe new life into urban cores. With more than a hundred projects completed, the Culver City firm manages a $1 billion portfolio covering 3.5 million square feet, owning and operating all its developments. Its portfolio spans retail, office, residential and mixed‑use projects, such as the Evermont complex in South Los Angeles—a Target‑anchored site that houses 180 affordable and senior units, restaurants and retail. The company also supplies the retail component of the expansive Jordan Downs mixed‑use plan and is developing the L.A. County General Hospital site into a “Healthy Village” that blends health care, housing, retail and community services.
Leandro Tyberg, co‑founder and president, steers Primestor’s operations, culture and priorities. He also chairs the Diversity Builders Alliance, co‑founded it, and sits on boards of the Urban Land Institute (L.A.), the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust and Holos Communities.
**Why mixed‑use projects matter in Los Angeles**
Los Angeles is a dynamic, diverse, land‑constrained city. Mixed‑use developments maximize scarce land by combining housing, retail, community services and open space into a single, walkable ecosystem. They address the city’s housing shortage and the need for accessible amenities, placing homes near jobs, transit and daily services while reducing congestion. This model aligns with how Angelenos live—mobile, connected, and craving vibrant places that blend work, home and community.
**Best neighborhoods for mixed‑use**
South Los Angeles, East Los Angeles and other working‑class districts offer rich culture, strong community identity and unmet demand. These areas already host local businesses, schools and cultural institutions that can be amplified through inclusive growth. When executed thoughtfully, mixed‑use projects enhance a neighborhood’s character rather than erase it.
**Project strategy and approach**
Primestor’s method centers on community partnership, impact‑driven investment and aligning the interests of residents, capital markets and investors. At Evermont, the firm delivers retail, small‑business incubation, a Metro training hub and housing (developed by Bridge Housing) to a transit hub in South L.A., creating a catalyst for inclusive growth. At Jordan Downs, collaboration with the Los Angeles Housing Authority, residents and local leaders reimagines a Watts site into a mixed‑income, mixed‑use neighborhood that honors history while opening new economic pathways. The L.A. County General Hospital project focuses on a Healthy Village, preserving the historic 1.2 million‑square‑foot building, seismic retrofitting it and integrating health care, housing, retail and coordinated community services.
Each project is tailored to its community, avoiding one‑size‑fits‑all solutions and emphasizing authenticity, impact and economic opportunity.
**Impact of diversity**
With 89 % minority and 49 % female employees, Primestor’s workforce mirrors the communities it serves. Lived experience, cultural fluency and deep relationships inform planning, design and engagement, building trust quickly and authentically. This alignment between team and community is a strategic advantage that yields lasting, meaningful projects.
**Community connection**
Mixed‑use developments naturally create gathering places. By integrating housing, retail, public spaces and services, they become anchors for daily life—coffee shops, neighbor interactions, service access and community events—all within walking distance. This fosters social cohesion and turns real estate into placemaking.
**Future outlook**
Los Angeles development will increasingly prioritize projects that are integrated, equitable, transit‑oriented and sustainable. Mixed‑use developments will remain central, offering flexibility to address housing, economic development, mobility and climate adaptation in a single investment. They also enable public‑private partnerships and long‑term community benefits. For Primestor, mixed‑use is not just a real‑estate strategy; it is a community‑building strategy that will help ensure the city’s growth is inclusive, connected and reflective of its residents.
