Just north of the L.A. River in Sherman Oaks, developer IMT Residential has completed excavation of the parking lots surrounding the former headquarters of the Sunkist Growers Cooperative, where a mixed-use apartment complex known as Citrus Commons is set to rise.

View from Riverside DriveJohnson Fain

Located at the southwest corner of Hazeltine Avenue and Riverside Drive, the finished project will include three low-rise buildings featuring a combined total of 249 residential units atop 27,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space. Parking for 1,141 vehicles would be located below ground and in new above-grade structures.

IMT, as a condition of approval, is expected to set aside 25 apartments for rent by moderate-income households.

The apartments at Citrus Commons will come in a mix of studio, one-, and two-bedroom floor plans, ranging from 530 to 1,240 square feet in size, according to a project website. Planned amenities include a fitness center and a swimming pool.

View from Hazeltine AvenueJohnson Fain

Johnson Fain is designing the mixed-use complex, which add four- and five-story buildings clad in stucco and wood panels, interspersed with 3.5 acres of walking paths and publicly accessible green space - including a small park planned adjacent to the Los Angeles River. 

Sunkist's former home, the AC Martin-designed brutalist office building at the center of the property, is being retained and restored at 146,510 square feet of offices for rent.

Ground-floor retail will line the Riverside Drive side of the property, including 12,000 square feet of shops and restaurants and a nearly 15,000-square-foot grocery, which is already leased. Rumors have swirled that Trader Joe's is the as-yet unnamed tenant.

Construction of Citrus Commons, view looking southeastGary Leonard

Construction of Citrus Commons is expected to occur over a 33-month period, according to an environmental impact report conducted for the project.

IMT Residential, which is based out of Sherman Oaks, has a portfolio of rental properties located in nine states.  Its projects in Sherman Oaks also include Via Avanti, a proposed mixed-use project featuring 325 apartments and 44,000 square feet of retail space at Sepulveda Boulevard and Camarillo Street.