Earlier this month, a developer secured city approvals to build a mixed-use apartment complex on a wedge-shaped property just east of the 110 Freeway in Historic South-Central. That plan now faces opposition from one of the region's biggest institutions: the University of Southern California.

On December 26, USC appealed city entitlements obtained by Hamid Razipour of Razi Grand Property, LLC for a property at 3851 S. Grand Avenue. The proposed five-story building, slated for the northwest intersection of 39th Street and Grand Avenue, would include 12 live/work apartments above 723 square feet of ground-floor commercial space and a six-car garage.

Aerial view looking northwestDFH Architects

Razipour's project relied on Transit Oriented Communities incentives to permit the construction a larger building than typically allowed by zoning rules. In exchange, one of the proposed apartments as affordable housing at the extremely low-income level.

USC's objections to the project, as related in a narrative submitted with the appeal, relates to what it alleges will be impacts to the Coliseum Sign, which abuts the project site at 3843 S. Grand Avenue.

"For context, the University and the Coliseum share 100 years of history," states the narrative. "The Trojans began playing football in the Coliseum in 1923. This relationship was strengthened 10 years ago when the University took over operation and management of the Coliseum. Furthermore, as part of its lease of the Coliseum, the University invested approximately $270 Million in the rehabilitation of the Coliseum to add another 100 years of useful life to this iconic structure."

3851 S Grand AvenueGoogle Maps

The narrative also notes that the Coliseum Sign has already been found eligible for local historic designation, and may now be eligible for the California Register of Historic Resources, due to its association with the 1984 Summer Olympics. However, the character-defining feature of the project is visibility - which the proposed development would potentially obstruct. The appeal argues that the project has not undergone sufficient environmental analysis, and also contends that it has not provided sufficient affordable housing to justify the provision of development incentives under the TOC guidelines.

This story should sound familiar to Urbanize LA regulars: Razipour has faced similar opposition to another project one block north at 3801 S. Grand Avenue from LAFC, which plays games at nearby BMO Stadium, and also has signage which would could be obscured by the construction of multi-story buildings.

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