Los Angeles Times - Northridge Heliport

Economic and operational consolidation. The heliport was an ancillary facility for the Los Angeles Times' Chatsworth printing plant. In 2021, the newspaper consolidated its printing operations at its Olympic Boulevard plant in Downtown Los Angeles to reduce costs and streamline production amid industry-wide changes in print media. With the primary facility it served being shut down, the heliport became redundant and was decommissioned.

The site is part of a major redevelopment project. After the printing plant closed, the entire 26-acre property, including the former heliport area, was sold in early 2023 to Healthpeak Properties, a real estate investment trust (REIT). The new owner plans to demolish the former printing plant and redevelop the site into a large-scale life sciences campus, focusing on research and development facilities. The heliport is no longer operational, and any remaining physical infrastructure (like the helipad markings) is slated for removal as part of the new construction.

The Los Angeles Times - Northridge Heliport was a private-use heliport integral to the news-gathering and logistical operations of one of the largest newspapers in the United States. Its primary functions included:

1. **Aerial News Gathering:** It served as a base for helicopters used by reporters and photographers to quickly cover breaking news stories across the sprawling Los Angeles metropolitan area and the San Fernando Valley. This was crucial for reporting on traffic, wildfires, police pursuits, and other events where speed and aerial perspective were advantageous.

2. **Logistics and Transport:** The heliport facilitated the rapid transport of personnel, film, and other materials between the Chatsworth plant, the main LA Times headquarters downtown, and other bureaus.

Its existence symbolized the resources major print media outlets once dedicated to maintaining a competitive edge in reporting. The heliport was a vital tool that enabled the LA Times to provide comprehensive, real-time coverage for decades.

None. There are no plans or prospects for reopening the Los Angeles Times - Northridge Heliport. The original operator (Los Angeles Times) has permanently vacated the site, and the property has been sold for a completely different commercial purpose (a life sciences campus). Any future heliport at this location would be a new, unrelated facility established by the new property owners, which is not currently part of their announced plans.