A vacant commercial building that most recently housed a used car sales business in Santa Monica is set to give way to a mixed-use apartment complex, according to a new presentation to the Santa Monica Architectural Review Board.

The project from Michel Bolour of Redhill, LLC, slated for a corner lot at 2929 Pico Boulevard, calls for the construction of a six-story building featuring 59 studio and one-bedroom apartments above 8,685 square feet of ground-floor commercial space and semi-subterranean parking for 34 vehicles.

View looking northeast from Pico BoulevardAero Collective

Requested entitlements include density bonus incentives to permit a larger building than otherwise allowed by zoning rules. In exchange, six apartments would be set aside for rent at the moderate-, low-, and very low-income levels.

Aero Collective is designing 2929 Pico, which would include terrace decks at the rooftop and second floor.

2929 Pico BoulevardGoogle Maps

"The contemporary design utilizes the balconies and stair elements enhanced with materials with varying degrees of transparency to create visual interest, providing vertical and horizontal readings around the building," reads analysis from a staff report. "The balcony elements also allow for some planar expression, particularly at the south elevation and also at the stair elements. The ground floor storefront façade creates a strong horizontal base to the building through the use of dark materials in contrast with the bright energetic white with yellow accent of the upper floors."

The report recommends approval of the project.

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