At its meeting on August 31, the Los Angeles City council rejected an appeal seeking to block the construction of a new multifamily residential development in Westlake, upholding approvals awarded earlier this year by the Planning Department.

View looking southwest from Occidental BoulevardMiKA Design Group

The proposed project from Spudland, LLC, which would rise at 139 S. Occidental Boulevard, calls for the construction of a six-story building featuring 74 studio, one-, and two-bedroom apartments above subterranean parking for 79 vehicles.

Project entitlements include Transit Oriented Communities incentives, allowing increased density and reductions to required setbacks and on-site open space due to the property's location near frequently-served bus stops..  In exchange the development bonuses, nine apartments are to be set aside as deed-restricted affordable housing - replacing 70 percent of units at the rent-stabilized building which previously occupied the project site.

MiKA Design Group is designing the project, which is depicted as a contemporary podium-type building featuring amenities such as a courtyard and a ground-level fitness room.

139 S Occidental BoulevardGoogle Maps

The project was faced with an appeal from the Coalition for Equitable Westlake/MacArthur Park, an organization which frequently opposed new residential developments in Central Los Angeles.  The appeal had argued that the proposed apartment complex violates the California Environmental Quality Act, and should have been subject to more stringent review.

Across the street from the proposed development, a similar apartment complex is planned at 154 S. Occidental Boulevard.