LaTerra Development was founded by Charles Tourtellotte in 2009, who is presently serving as the President[8] and CEO of the organization.[9][10] Chris Tourtellotte,[11] son of Charles Tourtellotte is presently serving as the managing director of the firm.[12] In 2015,
El Monte City Council in collaboration with LaTerra Development announced the mixed-use residential-commercial project, the Garvey Square.[13][14] The project was the first project under the City Council's "new mixed-multi use zoning and development regulations adopted in 2011 for the Garvey Corridor".[15][16] In September 2015, China's Gemdale Corp partnered[17] with LaTerra with the aim to build a six-story residential and commercial complex near Sunset Boulevard in
Hollywood.[18][17][19][20][21] During August 2016, LaTerra started the construction of two infill apartment projects totaling 325 units at
Santa Ana and
Chula Vista, California.[22] In April 2018, LaTerra entitled 'a mixed-use collection of townhomes' in Pacific Highlands Ranch,
San Diego, the project was later sold to
KB Home.[23] In April 2019, LaTerra announced the commencement of a multi-use project at
Burbank, California.[24] The Project was named as LaTerra Burbank and it included 573 apartments in two towers and a seven-story, 307-room hotel with a total worth of US$375 million.[12][25] In June 2019, LaTerra launched two apartment complex projects namely Broadway & Cloverfield in
Santa Monica.[26] In March 2019, LaTerra received the approval for the 96 unit apartment complex in Los Feliz as part of a 246 unit assemblage.[27]
In June 2019,
Orange County Register reported that LaTerra's new apartment project in Santa Ana was sold for $101 million or $445,000 per unit.[28][29] In June 2020, LaTerra Development initiated a joint venture with
QuadReal Property Group where the latter invested US$250 million.[30][31][7]
In July 2020, LaTerra started a redevelopment project in West Hollywood area, in the location of Madison Car Wash, a vintage car wash facility established in 1964.[32]The West Hollywood Preservation Alliance claimed historical significance in the existing two-story building car washing facility of the Madison Car Wash, which was designed following neo-Googie style. Though West Hollywood Daily News reported "the historic value was not enough to save the vintage car wash" and accordingly the structures were dismantled and a 71 apartment units and 8700 Sf of retail is under construction in its place.[33][34][35][36]