Around the Corner

Hope you enjoyed a spooky week — and the Dodgers win 🏆

(even if I’m still a Blue Jays fan)

City Council directed departments to analyze how SB 79’s new housing density near transit stops could reshape zoning, infrastructure, and city services, with a comprehensive report due in early 2026. See more details below.

Meanwhile, Pasadena is selling more than a dozen homes once slated for demolition as part of the defunct 710 Freeway extension project.

Oct in Review 

City of LA Applications:

• Executive Directive 1 (ED1) and RED1: 1 ADM/DIR (+8 Pre-Application Review or PAR or Expanded Administrative Review (EAR) RED1 projects)

  • 2100 Crenshaw Blvd, EAR-2025-5795-AH-RED1: ED1 with 52-Unit 100% Affordable Housing Apartments including 1-Manager's Unit at Market Rate in West Adams - Baldwin Hills - Leimert Park

  • 14550 Delano St, PAR-2025-5607-VHCA-RED1: 207 Shared Housing Units for Residential Care Facility for the Elderly and 1 unit set-aside as Manager's unit

• Other Affordable (under CHIP)

  • 6243 N Halbrent Ave, EAR-2025-5772-AH-PHP-HCA: Construction of a new 42 unit, 5 story 100% affordable residential project utilizing on and off menu incentives (CHIP) pursuant to State Law

• Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC): 3 (2 DIR, 1 PAR)

  • 3000 W Wilshire Blvd, DIR-2022-5844-TOC-SPR-VHCA-M1: Construction of a new mixed-use development containing a total of 166 multifamily residential dwelling units, of which 35 for VLI households

• Appeals: 6

Highlighted Applications

City of LA

• 12515 Ventura Blvd, CPC-2025-5697-DB-PR-SPPC-MCUP-VHCA: Pursuant to LAMC 12.22 A.37(d)(3) A density bonus to demolish all commercial buildings and lots, for a new mixed-use, including three 7-story, 84-foot buildings with 814 residential units, and 75,968 sf of commercial uses

• 525 S Virgil Ave, CPC-2025-5714-GPA-ZC-CU2-PR: Proposed demolition of an (e) 52,072 sf office building to develop a (n) 252,876 sf, 7-story self-storage facility over one subterrenean basement

• 10621 Wilkins Ave, DIR-2025-5252-DRB-SPPC-HCA: Proposed demolition of a single-family dwelling and for the construction of 6 multifamily apartment units within the Westwood Community Design Review Board Specific Plan area

• 21155 Califa St, EAR-2025-5809-AH-SPPC-WC-VHCA-RED1: 100% affordable red1 project, and warner center sp review compliance for a new 316 unit multi family building

• 3115 S 9Th Ave, CPC-2025-5697-DB-PR-SPPC-MCUP-VHCA: New 6-story, mixed-use density bonus project with two ground floor commercial units and 26 dwelling units, including 3 units reserved for Very Low Income tenants

• 3000 W Wilshire Blvd, DIR-2022-5844-TOC-SPR-VHCA-M1: Modification of Entitlement to facilitate the construction of a new mixed-use development containing a total of 166 multifamily residential dwelling units (35 VLI)

City of Santa Monica

• 208 Bicknell Ave, 25ENT-0181: Coastal Approval in Concept involving the remodel and addition to an existing 1-story duplex to be converted into a 3-story duplex with a rooftop terrace. The duplex has an address of 208 and 210 Bicknell Ave

Week Ahead

Nov 3 | LA City Council

• Review of PLUM Committee direction for multiple departments to assess how SB 79, which increases housing density near transit stops, will affect zoning, infrastructure, and City services.

  By Dec 1 2025, the Department of City Planning (DCP) must:

  • Define “transit-oriented development stop.”

  • Provide detailed maps showing all areas eligible for SB 79.

  • Outline options for implementation—immediate, delayed, or through a Transit-Oriented Development Alternative Plan (TODAP)—and identify needed staffing and funding.

  The City Administrative Officer (CAO) will report on how to fund this work and begin capacity modeling. By Jan 5 2026, DCP must deliver a comprehensive report detailing:

  • How SB 79 interacts with Density Bonus Law.

  • Impacts on rent-stabilized housing, historic zones, fire and coastal areas, and industrial sites.

  • Allowable density, height, FAR, and parking near each transit stop.

  • Options for areas lacking sidewalks or pedestrian access and coordination with existing Community Plans and the Citywide Housing Incentive Program (CHIP).

  The CAO, DCP, and other departments will also assess citywide infrastructure, utilities, emergency services, and fiscal impacts, including costs, revenue, and job creation tied to SB 79-related development. Within 90 days, DCP must explain how the City will meet RHNA housing targets and Fair Housing obligations under SB 79.

• 2250–2270 W. Pico Blvd, 1309–1315 S. Arapahoe St, CPC-2018-3544-GPA-VZC-HD-CU-SPR: General Plan Amendment that includes

  • Changes land use designation in the South Los Angeles Community Plan from Commercial Manufacturing and Low Medium II Residential to Neighborhood Commercial.

  • Amends Footnote No. 4 on the Community Plan Map to allow Height District No. 2.

  • Vesting Zone and Height District Change:

    • From [Q]C2-1 and RD1.5-1 to (T)C2-2-CPIO (Commercial Zone within a Community Plan Implementation Overlay).

  • Ordinance and Resolution:

    • The City Council adopts an ordinance to formalize the zone and height change and a resolution approving the plan amendment.

Nov 6 | LA City Planning Commission

• CPC-2025-5329-SN: An Amendment to the Convention Center and Arena Sign District for modifications of the signage program and other technical updates.

• 13916 West Polk St, CPC-2022-9268-DB-HCA: Construction, use, and maintenance of a 40-unit Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE) on a 48,284.1 sf lot with eight units to be rented at low income households and 32 units to be rented at market rate. The Project is proposed for four-stories and 44 feet in height and will have 96,522 sf of floor area and zero automobile parking spaces. As proposed, two non-protected off-site trees will be removed

• 5950 Hollywood Blvd, ZA-2022-6687-CUB-DB-SPR-HCA-1A: The Project proposes a mixed-use development comprised of 350 residential units (including 44 units for VLI households), 136,000 sf of office, 18,004 sf of retail, and 4,038 sf of restaurant. The proposed uses would be within three primary buildings (Buildings A, B, and C), and 11 low-rise structures dispersed throughout the Project Site. Building A would be a 136,000 sf, six-story office and retail building; Building B would be a 289,079 sf, 35-story residential tower; and Building C would be a 23,560 sf, four-story residential building. Buildings A and B and the low-rise structures would front Hollywood Boulevard (Hollywood Lot); and Building C would be located on a single lot fronting Carlton Way (Carlton Lot). One of the low-rise structures would be a 4,038 sf, two-story restaurant and the remaining 10 structures would include 38 residential townhomes, ranging from two to four stories in height. Upon completion, the Project would result in a total floor area of 501,185 sf on a 3.7-acre site.

  • VTT-83987-VHCA-1A: Merger and re-subdivision of an approximately 3.7-acre site into one ground lot and nine airspace lots; and a Haul Route for the export of up to 252,000 cubic yards of soil

• 2656 Magnolia Ave, DIR-2024-7640-BSA-1A: An appeal of the Department of Building and Safety action of issuing a permit for the demolition of a one-story duplex