Historically, Warner Center is generally bounded by Vanowen Street to the north, the Ventura Freeway to the south, De Soto Avenue to the east, and Topanga Canyon Boulevard on the west.
[3] The area was originally planned to relieve traffic to and from downtown Los Angeles, as well as generate jobs in the San Fernando Valley.
In 1968, Robert Allison, then the manager for the San Fernando Valley office of Coldwell Banker, arranged the sale of 630 acres (250 ha) of the land to Aetna Life and Casualty for $30 million.
Initially, large tracts of the Warner Ranch land were developed in the Canoga Park portion, between Victory Boulevard and Vanowen Avenue.
In the ensuing 20 years, much of the build-out of Warner Center occurred, including approximately 4,300 multi-family dwelling units, and millions of square feet of commercial and office space.
The next major project was LNR Warner Center, which was built at the site of the former Prudential Life Insurance Company buildings between 2001 and 2005, totaling over 1.4 million square feet of primarily office space.
[4] By 2035, the plan anticipates an additional:[4] In 2011, the Los Angeles Daily News quoted City Planner Ken Bernstein as describing a new vision for Warner Center as more "cosmopolitan, 21st century."
Small retail shops — where locals could walk to buy basics — would be encouraged, in an area now dominated by national chains and big malls.
[6] The 34-acre vacant shopping mall (14 ha), The Promenade, was sold in March 2022 to sports owner and real estate developer Stan Kroenke for approximately $150 million.
[7] The combined 65-acre property (26 ha) was expected to be developed into a permanent team headquarters and practice facility for the Los Angeles Rams.