The Los Angeles City Planning Commission has green-lit a proposal from Kevin Tsai Architecture which calls for razing and redeveloping the firm's offices with housing.

The project at 1439 W. Jefferson Boulevard in the Adams-Normandie neighborhood would clear away the firm's existing single-story structure to make way for the construction of a six-story edifice featuring 15 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments (and one accessory dwelling units) above 450 square feet of ground-floor commercial space. No on-site parking is proposed.

1439 W. Jefferson BoulevardGoogle Street View

Planning Commission approvals included density bonus incentives allowing a larger building than otherwise permitted by zoning rules. In exchange, two of the apartments are to be set aside for rent as affordable housing at the very low-income level.

Tsai, who has previously indicated that he is syndicating the deal for his employees, is designing a building that would be clad mostly in smooth black cement plaster, accented with a decorative brick wall along Jefferson Boulevard. 

1439 W. Jefferson BoulevardGoogle Maps

Construction is expected to begin this summer.

The project is located in close proximity to several developments in the blocks west of the USC campus, including an affordable housing which would rise directly across the street and the 130-unit Jefferson Flats. The corridor also includes a former oil drilling facility which non-profit developers also hope to transform into affordable housing.

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