25 apartments underway on long-empty site in Sherman Oaks

Redevelopment has finally come for a long-vacant site near the L.A. River in Sherman Oaks.

Grading activities commenced earlier this month on the empty lot located at the northeast corner of Fulton Avenue and Moorpark Street, where the City of Los Angeles approved plans earlier this year for the construction of a five-story, 25-unit apartment building with basement parking for 39 vehicles.

The project applicant, an entity tied to local real estate firm I & L Investments, has proposed a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, including two units which would be set aside as very low-income affordable housing in exchange for density bonus incentives.

City records indicate that Labyrinth Design Studio is the project's architect. A rendering from a landing page on the firm's website depict the project with a series of terrace decks facing the intersection of Fulton and Moorpark, which would be used as balconies for residents. Plans also call for a rooftop deck.

The project site is located just over a half-mile northwest of the Sportsmen's Lodge, where property owner Midwood Investment & Development has proposed razing the existing hotel to make way for a mixed-use apartment complex featuring up to 525 residential units. A new retail complex attached to the Sportsmen's Lodge opened earlier this year.

• Sherman Oaks (Urbanize LA)