Around the Corner

Happy Labor Day! 👷‍♀️👷🏽

LA’s housing and land use scene stayed steady through August, even without major commission or council meetings. As we enter the September surge and with just four months left in 2025, key questions remain:

• Are entitled projects actually breaking ground?

• How is economic uncertainty shaping development timelines?

• What’s the status of wildfire rebuilds?

• And what more can be done to accelerate housing growth across the region?

Aug in Review 

City of LA Applications:

• Executive Directive 1 (ED1) and RED1: 12 ADM/DIR (+8 Pre-Application Review or PAR). 3 Expanded Administrative Review (EAR) RED1 projects

  • 6 in West LA

  • 5 in Canoga Park-Winnetka-Woodland Hills-West Hills

  • 4 in South LA

  • 4 in Wilshire

    • 6033 De Soto Ave, DIR-2025-4381-AH-DB-RED1-SPPC-HCA: Approved with conditions the construction a 198,298 sf, 207 unit, 7-story affordable housing project on a 62,372 sf lot

• Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC): 4 DIR, 3 PAR

  • 110 N Mariposa Ave, DIR-2025-4742-TOC-VHCA: Demolition of a SFD for a proposed 5 story residential apartment building that consists of 24 units (Tier 3)

  • 1506 Sawtelle Blvd, DIR-2025-4575-TOC-WDI-HCA: Construction of a 16-unit, 5-story apartment building in West Los Angeles

• Appeals: 7

  • 17660 Ventura Blvd, ZA-2017-4754-CU-SPPA-SPP-PA2-1A: Applicant/appellant Chick-fil-A Inc. appeals the ZA determination that their remedial measures “have not substantially eliminated adverse traffic conditions,” and that a “notice of public hearing for revocation of the conditional use to allow a drive through abutting a [residential] zoned property be initiated”, with only partial compliance of the drive-through has been attained with corrective conditions set forth

• Denied Application:

  • 1159 S Alfred St, ADM-2025-4645-CWC: Denial of replacement of existing fence and new gate to access backyard, as well as window replacement in existing one story single family house. Application for conforming work contributing elements.

• Wildfire Rebuild Applications: 9

  • 15263 Via De Las Olas, ADM-2025-4361-CCB: New factory-built, state-approved, 1-story detached ADU (761 sf)

  • 16616 Bienveneda Pl, ADM-2025-4385-BIO-CCB: Fire Rebuild fir SFD and Attached ADU, retaining wall, and deck. Using EO8 Eligibility

  • 17020 W Sunset Blvd, PAR-2025-4550-CM: Palisades fire rebuild of two multifamily buildings, seeking to be eligible for EO1. Either rebuild of one building on each lot or new build of one building across both lots.

Highlighted Applications

City of LA

• 2700 Silver Ridge Ave, ZA-2025-4927-ADJ-HCA: Subdivision of 1 parcel into 2 with the existing 2 SFDs to remain and an adjustment to permit reduced yard setbacks and space between buildings

• 11970 W Ohio Ave, ADM-2025-4581-DB-VHCA-RED1: Requesting the construction of a 73,920 sf, seven story, 68 foot, 100% affordable housing development

• 2323 Westwood Blvd, ADM-2025-4571-DB-VHCA-RED1: Seven story, 68 ft and 100% affordable housing development with 103 dwelling units

• 21115 Vanowen St, ADM-2025-4569-OVR-WC: A Change of Use from General Office to Medical Office and interior tenant improvements for two adjoining existing to-remain, two-story multi-tenant buildings

• 1506 Sawtelle Blvd, DIR-2025-4575-TOC-WDI-HCA: Demolition of existing structures and construction of a 16-unit, 5-story apartment building

• 2908 Robertson Pl, EAR-2025-4479-AH-VHCA-RED1: Construction of 3 new buildings for 162 100% affordable dwelling units, max height of 93 ft, 106,103 sf of floor area. A 10,795 sf church is also proposed on-site in the MU(EC) Zone.

• 1454 Esperanza St, ADM-2025-4472-RDP: Demolition of existing 1-story warehouse, and new 1-story warehouse

City of Santa Monica

• 1655 26th St, 25ENT-0155: SB 330 application for a proposed 8-story mixed-use multifamily residential building consisting of 401 residential units and 2,070 sf of ground floor commercial space with two levels of subterranean parking. The applicant is submitting an AB 130 CEQA exemption notice of applicability and the request for the City to commence the tribal notification and consultation process

• 1238 7th St, 25ENT-0149: Sb 330 preliminary application for a 100% affordable housing development consisting of a 4-story residential building which includes 23 deed restricted affordable units

Week Ahead

LA Area Planning Commissions Cancelled

Santa Monica Planning and Design Commissions Cancelled (for the third week in a row)

Sep 3 | LA City Council

• PLUM Committee Report relative to improving the existing inspection and permitting process for restaurant equipment and related scope of works. Instruct LADBS to prepare a report with recommendations to improve the existing inspection and permitting process for restaurant equipment and related scope of works, as follows:

  • 1. Feasibility and ability to expand virtual inspections for all types of commercial equipment and related inspections - many installations require visual verification of proper installation, without need for further detail.

  • 2. Expand the self-certification program from residential to include commercial contractors. This would allow the DBS to explore including other contractors in the process of pulling permits for work they are qualified to perform for given levels of experience.

  • 3. Ability for single inspectors to be introduced for continuity of projects, to avoid the change in requests between inspectors.

  • 4. Clarification of like-for-like equipment, to clarify when equipment can be deemed similar enough to be replaced without inspections, e.g. similar water pressure and capacity of water related items.