West Hollywood’s Planning Commission approved a demolition Thursday night for 8025 Santa Monica Boulevard, making way for the construction of a new seven-story mixed-use development.
The development is planned to have 110 dwelling units, 3795 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor, and a two-level subterranean garage housing 115 parking spaces. The proposal includes 15 affordable housing units and leverages a density bonus and concessions.
The project is managed by Doug Vu, the project planner. The site currently houses a 4000 square feet commercial bank branch building originally constructed in 1961 and later occupied by the Bank of America until 2021.
The city received public comments on the project, including a letter from the firm of Los udroid, raising concerns about the city’s intention to use a Class 32 categorical exemption for infill projects. The city responded with a memorandum, asserting the project qualifies for the Class 32 exemption and that the draft resolution findings are valid.
The planned development includes varying unit types: micro studios, micro one-bedroom units, one-bedroom units, and two-bedroom units. A total of 95 units will be market rate, while 15 will be permanently affordable, catering to very low and moderate-income households. The building design incorporates open spaces, including a central courtyard open to the sky, a rooftop swimming pool, and various common amenity rooms.
The project is leveraging a density bonus of 49% along with three concessions that involve adding two more stories to the building, exceeding the permitted height by 19 feet, eliminating the 35-foot height limit for the rear portion of the building adjacent to the residential zoning district, and reducing the minimum separation between commercial and residential structures at the back of the property to 10 feet 4 inches.
The design review subcommittee reviewed the project, resulting in several recommendations to improve the livability of the units, including the micro units. City architect Ric Abramson was about to elaborate on the building and site design.
Abramson emphasized the project’s importance, considering it a precursor to future developments in the city. He noted that the project fills a notable gap in the housing market by introducing micro living units, a lifestyle currently absent in the city. Abramson praised the design team for their receptiveness to feedback and willingness to refine the project based on comments received throughout the development process.
Questions and concerns raised during the design review stage focused on the design of the micro units. The challenge highlighted was the need to integrate everyday storage solutions meticulously to ensure functionality given the reduced size of these units.
Commissioner Kimberly Copeland thanked the presenters and sought clarification on a few points, including regulations or design standards for micro units, which are reportedly in the works but not yet established. Copeland also inquired about traffic egress, confirming that alterations to facilitate different exits from the property would be the applicant’s responsibility.
Vice Chair Michael Lombardi provided a summary of the feedback from the design review subcommittee, noting the project’s general favorability, especially regarding the south elevation design.
Jeff Seymour of the Seymour Consulting Group introduced the team that will present the details of the project, passing on the presentation to Christian Robert of OfficeUntitled Architects, followed by the project owner and developer Alex Masachi to address any questions.
Christian Robert discussed the project’s environmental features, including a courtyard for natural ventilation and rainwater capture facilities. He also highlighted the project’s commitment to creating a variety of outdoor spaces, including a rooftop terrace offering panoramic views of the city.
Robert proceeded to present the technical details of the project, which include a buildable envelope established through a series of calculated adjustments, a design process that incorporates various setbacks for fire department access, and the inclusion of a central courtyard and a rooftop terrace. The discussion covered floor plans from parking levels to upper floors, including various unit types and amenities such as a large courtyard and outdoor amenity spaces on the sixth and seventh floors. The landscape design includes a rooftop with smaller, more intimate areas separated by landscaping and connected by a walk system. The presentation underscored the project’s adherence to environmental considerations and ended with Christian Robert thanking the commissioners and opening the floor for questions.
Commissioner Erick Matos expresses gratitude to the community for their engagement and voices support for the project, citing the diverse range of affordable housing options it brings. Matos shares a personal story emphasizing the value of smaller living spaces, appreciating the integration of micro units in the housing stock, and noting the project’s alignment with commercial and transit hubs, expressing intent to support the project.
Commissioner David Gregoire reiterates support but raises concerns over the viability of micro units for long-term residency, questioning the quality of life in such small spaces and fearing they might not foster long-term relationships with the city. Gregoire also brings up concerns about parking, fearing insufficient parking might exacerbate the existing problem in the city, despite affirming support for the project and its categorical exemption.
Commissioner Copeland appreciates the design, particularly praising the outdoor and common spaces. However, Copeland echoes concerns regarding the micro units, emphasizing the lack of detailed standards and regulations for such units. Copeland suggests a continuance or imposing conditions to ensure the livability of the units, while expressing a desire for a well-considered, habitable project that responds to public concerns adequately.
Commissioner Stacey Jones shows appreciation for the applicant’s receptiveness to feedback, favoring the forward momentum of the housing project over waiting for design standards to be established. Jones favors learning from the lived experiences in the new units to inform future policies, viewing this as a proactive approach to addressing the housing crisis and supporting the community. Jones leans towards supporting the project, welcoming further discussions on the various concerns raised.
Vice Chair Lombardi sees both support and concerns surrounding the project, appreciating the responsive and evolving design. Lombardi sees a level of experimentation with the introduction of micro units in West Hollywood and hopes learnings from this project will inform future endeavors. While harboring concerns over some units and environmental aspects, Lombardi leans towards approving the project, hoping it will be a successful addition to the city, fostering positive outcomes.
In the final part of the discussion, a motion to approve the project was made by Commissioner Matos and seconded by Commissioner Edwards. The motion passed with six commissioners voting in favor and one, Commissioner Copeland, voting against it. This indicates that the commission has decided to approve the resolution, albeit without unanimous agreement.
Great building but no to micro units! They facilitate insanity and there’s PLENTY of that walking around here. Could you imagine living in one for the long-term?
You know what’s worse than living in a micro unit?
Living on the streets.
Being priced out of a neighborhood completely.
Being stuck in soul-crushing traffic commuting for hours because you can’t afford to live near good job opportunities.
Micro Units provide new options for people to choose from.
You may not like them, but they could be a great choice for someone else.
I like this site because it really is informative about WeHo. I think I made a regrettable comment once because I thought the story was unfair against conservatives. But I appreciate that they primarily are informative. I am fully against this absurd restructuring of L.A. with these monstrous apartment buildings. If course, that won’t stop them from building, but at least I’m kept informed, because this isn’t being covered elsewhere. (*Plus, I love messin’ with the woke “GreenEyedGuy.”)
The planning commission! What a joke. The totally incompetent city of West Hollywood owns a piece of property across Santa Monica from this proposed apartment building on SW the corner of Crescent Heights. a big empty lot for what is going on to be years just like 8150 Sunset. The greatest enemy in this city are developers who pay off the political hacks that are running it into the ground.
Considering the subway metro project will be completed in 2099…….this just adds more cars on the road. And even then non one will use it (except the homeless and criminals).
We don’t need more housing. If it’s too expensive for you move somewhere else.
Nope. The city will continue to approve more housing because it is desperately needed.
YOU can move somewhere else. It’s obvious you hate it here.
Absolutely brain dead take.
Millions of people are being crushed by the housing crisis because LA hasn’t been building units to meet the demand of a changing economic reality.
Building more housing will expand more options to more people.
I’m sorry that your primary concern is traffic, rather than people simply being able to afford to live.
You value your convenience over other people’s pursuit of happiness.
Absolutely Pathetic.
This is a good thing, despite all the naysayers. If you don’t like this size of unit, you are free to avoid living there. However, developers do market studies & know that there is an interest in smaller units with abundant community amenities in the building, along with more reasonable prices compare to a full 1 bedroom size unit. We are in housing crisis and need more units of all sizes, price points, amenities, etc. There are other buildings being built around town that have studios, 1-2 bedrooms, etc. This is another option for people. These are also legal to… Read more »
Micro units = prison cells. People are equating to this to New York City as if that’s a good thing. New York City is awful when you have to live with four people in studio apartment because that’s all you can afford. We don’t want that here.
Literally no one is forcing you to live in a micro-apartment.
You may not prefer them, but it could be a good option for someone else.
Micro-apartments are just another option for more freedom of choice in the housing market.
WeHo is already starting to resemble cities in China. Make it stop. I no longer recognize this city. They did the same to San Francisco, even tearing down full neighborhoods of those Victorian homes. SF looks like any other city now.
Sorry, but your personal aesthetic preferences aren’t as important as addressing the housing crisis.
I lived in a dorm room in college for five years that would have been smaller than these proposed micro-units, with its own bathroom (no kitchen) and I never gave a thought to jumping out of a window. I had never been happier! Apartments and condos in New York City with bathrooms and kitchens that are 400 square feet are very common. I’m all for these micro-units here and I am thinking the Crescent Heights/SMB parcel might be a good place to put a building of only micro-units. It would bring young people who can’t quite yet afford a one… Read more »
I think it is really positive that we have a developer who will experiment with micro units. They are not for everyone but they would appeal to single young people just starting out. While Commissioner Gregorie is probably right about micro units not encouraging long term residency (or relations), between a third and half of our current residents are likely only to live here five or six years; West Hollywood has always had that issue. I just wonder is a micro unit is a good home for a dog.
I have mixed feelings. For one year I rented an “efficiency” apartment (originally the master bedroom of a 2 bd room unit) at Mediterranean Village for when I was bi-coastal and considering a permanent move here. Having that option did help me make the decision. Once I decided to move here permanently I immediately moved into a bigger unit.
Everyone has gone through Mediterranean Village one way or another.
If you say so dear.
Micro Unite seems a trendy term for outfitted broom closets. No apparent consideration for the mental well being of one living in such an environment even if the drapes match the color of the cabinets.
True, that’s why minimum standard code was adopted to make sure living conditions were adequate enough for mental well being among other things.
The minimum standard code was not adopted……it is in development…… Commissioner Copeland commented on it .these details which should be known going in. Commissioner Jones always wants to move things forward and has no patience for pesky details, as she trusts the staff with a blank check.
My main issue here is with the micro apartments. Simply put, they should be illegal. I don’t know about this project but the ones I’ve seen in New York don’t even have bathrooms. Now from my perspective, that’s a step backward about 75 years. It’s reminiscent of the tenement/slums the immigrants were forced to live in. At least most of them had a bathtub in the kitchen. I can’t help but think how long it’s going to be until the resident opens one of the windows and jumps out, ending their miserable existence. I am by no means a proponent… Read more »
I agree, the micro units do seem like a step backwards to the tenements.
But then again, no one is forcing them to rent such a small space. They could always get more space for less $ (or for the same $) in a less desirable location.
They are def not for everybody.
You cannot call it an apartment and not have a bathroom.
Maybe illegal what they are doing in NY.
Too bad you have no sympathy for people with fewer means.
You should or might want to work on that.
The places you’re referring to in NYC are pre-war buildings (obviously housing code was different back then)
These units have their own bathroom and full kitchen.
Are you saving up to buy one?
Single Room Occupancy Hotels (SRO) or at the YMCA (Village People) are no longer legal in NYC.
I stayed at the Westside YMCA for the whole month of June. Shared bathroom, only one for each gender per floor, but otherwise everything I wanted.
Micro units at 335 sf. That’s about the size of one and a half parking spaces. Will they be permanently affordable units, or will they be market rate? This size dwelling in new construction is a long-term livability concern in both cases. The 335 sf size should have been seriously considered at the meeting. But it was not.
The LA Times had a recent story about a one car garage conversion to an ADU in Eagle Rock that rents “mid-term” for $4,000/month. Will this project emulate that? We don’t really know.
It says 15 units will be permanently affordable. Does not say which.
I love the ADU articles at LAT. They will earn their money back in no time.
They’ll earn their money back as high priced $4,000/month mid-term rentals or short term hotel rooms at $300/night.
I don’t think that was the intent of the legislation that allowed the building of ADUs.
Think you are correct.
But: Some of the ADUs have substantial square footage and many are simply gorgeous. Why is/are it/they not worth $4000 monthly?