Around the Corner

On May 12, 2025, Governor Newsom released a model ordinance urging cities and counties to ban homeless encampments on public property. Newsom is leveraging $3.3 billion in state funding to encourage local governments to adopt these measures.

On May 14, 2025, Governor Newsom announced his support for two legislative proposals aimed at streamlining housing development in urban areas. These proposals seek to reform CEQA and other permitting restrictions to accelerate the construction of new housing projects.

On May 17, 2025, LA Metro celebrated the grand opening of the Rail-to-Rail Active Transportation Corridor, a 5.5-mile multi-modal path and public green space connecting Inglewood and South Los Angeles. This $166 million project repurposes unused railroad tracks to provide a dedicated path for pedestrians and cyclists.

The Week Ahead

May 20 | LA City Council

• 6136 Manchester Ave, CPC-2022-6064-DB-MCUP-CDO-SPR-HCA-PHP-1A: Resolved to deny the appeal filed by SAFER and sustain LACPC’s determination in:

  • 1) approving a Main Conditional Use Permit to allow the sale and dispensing of a full line of alcoholic beverages for on-site and off-site consumption within up to 16,120 sf of commercial space;

  • 2) approving a CDO Compliance review with the design standards and guidelines of the Downtown Westchester CDO; and,

  • 3) approving a Site Plan Review for a project that creates or results in an increase of 50 or more dwelling units or guest rooms; for the development of a new 416,915 sf mixed-use building comprised of 489 dwelling units, including six live-work units and 64 VLI units, and 16,120 sf of ground-floor commercial space; the proposed uses would be located within an 8-story building with a max height of 96 ft.

• 2045 Violet St, CPC-2021-2231-GPA-VZC-HD-VCU-ZV-SPR: Adopt the modified findings of the LACPC and deny the appeal filed by CREED LA and sustain LACPC’s determination in approving:

  • 1) a Vesting Conditional Use Permit, pursuant to Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) Section 12.24W.19, to allow floor area averaging in a Unified Mixed-Use Development within a C or M Zone;

  • 2) a Zone Variance, pursuant to LAMC Section 12.27, to permit vehicular access to a loading zone from a public street and not the adjacent alley way; and,

  • 3) a Site Plan Review, pursuant to LAMC Section 16.05, for a development that results in an increase of more than 50,000 gross sf of non-residential floor area; for the Violet Street Creative Office Campus Project, a redevelopment and expansion of an existing office campus on an approximately six-acre site; the Project proposes to demolish two buildings with 35,738 sf of warehouse and office uses and associated surface parking for the new construction of a 13-story, 450,599 sf building comprised of 435,100 sf of office uses, 15,499 sf of ground floor retail and/or restaurant uses, and four subterranean and three above-grade levels of parking, all located on the southwestern portion of the Project Site. In addition, a Future Campus Expansion Phase could allow for the demolition of another existing 21,880 sf office building for the new construction of up to 211,201 sf of additional office and restaurant uses. The existing 222,915 sf Warner Music Group building (originally the Ford Factory building, a designated historic resource) and an existing five-story parking garage would be retained.

May 21 | West LA City Planning Commission

• 2419 South Ocean Front Walk, APCW-2021-4850-CDP-SPE-SPP-ZAA-F: A 299 sf addition to an existing 3,833 sf, three-story, multi-family residential structure with a mezzanine, a new 844 sf roof deck, and over-in-height fences and gates resulting in a 4,132 sf, four-story duplex with two guest rooms with a roof deck, an eight-foot-tall perimeter fence, and a 13-foot-tall entryway arbor

• 10942 – 10946 West Weyburn Ave, DIR-2024-4409-DRB-SPPC-COA-1A: Decision on appeal of a façade remodel and rehabilitation resulting in a consolidated retail corner suite with new windows, entryways, awnings, lighting, and an open-air patio and the change of use from retail to restaurant

May 22 | LA City Planning Commission

• 16610 – 16618 West Ventura Blvd, CPC-2023-3134-DB-SPP-HCA: Demolition and removal of all existing structures, and construction of a new 45,960-sf mixed-use development comprised of 45 residential units, eight of which are to be reserved for VLI households. The building will be a five-story (62 feet high) containing 42,560 sf of residential and 3,400 sf of commercial floor area with a max FAR of 2.3:1. The Project proposes a sign program including two Walls signs.

• 1848 South Gramercy Pl, CPC-2020-2115-DB: Construction of an eight story 89 foot tall mixed-use building comprised of 33 residential dwelling units (three VLI units), and approximately 466 sf of commercial space. The Project will provide 20 parking spaces, and will be 31,263 sf in floor area with a FAR of 6.04:1. The site is currently developed with a vacant, two-story residential structure that is to be demolished, with one street tree to be removed. The CPC shall receive new evidence, re-hear testimony, and reconsider this case and reconsider its April 4, 2023 action.

• CPC-2024-6096-CA: The proposed Increasing Transparency on Council Time Extensions Ordinance is a Citywide Code Amendment that will:

  • 1) add a new definition for high value development projects in Chapters 1 and 1A of the LAMC; and

  • 2) limit the duration and number of time extensions that the City Council and an applicant may consent to for the City Council’s time to act on any application for high value development projects, including its appeals, and all CEQA appeals

Week in Review

Highlighted Applications

City of LA 

• 3170 W Olympic Blvd, ADM-2025-2815-RDP: Install two new, one-site Illuminated Wall Signs, both 29'-2"x3'-1" (49.7 as) (Already Approved)

• 11627 S Main St, ADM-2025-2812-RDP: Obtain demolition permit for warehouse previously demolished in 2017 without approved permit (Already approved)

• 1027 S Norfolk Ave, DIR-2025-2776-CDP-MEL: Convert existing mezzanine and portion of existing garage into new 917 sf ADU with roof-top deck

• 1714 W 35th St, EAR-2025-2781-AH-VHCA: New construction of a 100% affordable 70-unit, 6-to 7-story residential building with accessory parking, open space and management office space

City of Santa Monica

• 5730 Uplander Way, P2025-0107: New 7-story multi-family residential (SB 330), including 287 dwelling units, 385 parking spaces; demolition of existing 30,878 sf of office

Highlighted Completions

City of LA

• 607 N Quail Dr, ZA-2021-9730-ZAD-SPP-HCA: Terminated construction of a new single family lot and ADU on a R-1 vacant lot

• 21241 Ventura Blvd, VTT-83939-CN: Approved with conditions the construction, use and maintain of 126 three-story residential townhome style condominium, 7 VLI units, on proposed small lots in the C4-1LD and the P-1LD Zones

• 334 5th Ave, DIR-2021-6120-CDP-MEL-HCA: Terminated demolition of two single-family dwellings and accessory structure; construction of a new single-family home, detached garage, and ADU in Venice

• 17829 W Halsted St, CPC-2024-1532-DB-VHCA: Approved
  new construction of 255 Units, 168,923 sf, 100% Affordable Housing Development seeking off-menu incentives in Northridge East

• 440 S Lincoln Blvd, ADM-2024-5757-RBPA: Authorized admin clearance under the RBP to sell and serve alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption in conjunction with restaurant, Baby Blues BBQ

• 8160 W McGroarty St, VTT-73957-HCA: Terminated 13-lot single family subdivision, including one open space lot in Sunland-Tujunga