Construction ramps up at 800 S Western Avenue in Koreatown

At the intersection of 8th Street and Western Avenue, wood framing is now rising at Western Station, one of developer Jamison Services, Inc.'s numerous upcoming projects in Koreatown.

Located on an L-shaped site at 800 S. Western Avenue, the mixed-use development will feature an eight-story edifice featuring 230 studio, one-, and two-bedroom apartments atop 13,300 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Additionally, Jamison is retaining the historic Pellissier Square Garage along the Western Avenue side of the property as a mix of retail, residential amenities, and parking for the new apartments.

Jamison entitled the property for development using Transit Oriented Communities incentives, and will be required to set aside 23 of the new apartments as deed-restricted affordable housing for a period of 55 years in exchange for bonus floor area and other benefits.

KTGY is designing Western Station, which will be a podium-type building consisting of five floors of wood-frame construction above three levels of concrete.

"The contemporary design is expressed through the bold horizontal blue slate massing; staggered windows and fenestration elements help break-up the otherwise smooth façade," reads a narrative from KTGY's website. "Several corner balconies suspended within a large 'lantern-like' element framed with clean lines protrude out from the North façade further emphasizing the community’s architectural style."

Completion of Western Station is expected in October 2023, according to a landing page on the Jamison website.

The under-construction apartment complex is the second project which Jamison has entitled for the property at 8th and Western. The developer had previously sought to construct a 12-story structure containing a 148-room hotel, 96 apartments, and 58,000 square feet of commercial space on the property, but stepped away from that plan shortly after securing approvals in 2018. Shortly afterward, Jamison submitted plans for the current project using Transit Oriented Communities incentives.

Besides Western Station, Jamison is also in construction at a smaller 157-unit development one block east along 8th Street, and recently submitted an application to the Planning Department seeking approvals for a 125-unit building just north along Western.

• 800 S. Western Avenue (Urbanize LA)