Affordable housing breaks ground at 1540 W. Court St. in Echo Park

Construction is set to begin for a new affordable housing complex just west of Glendale Boulevard in Echo Park, general contractor A & R Corporation announced recently via social media.

The project, which is being developed by Los Angeles-based Visionary Developments, would rise from a site located at 1540 Court Street. Plans call for the construction of a seven-story building featuring 189 apartments for low- and middle-income households without on-site parking.

View looking northwest from Court StreetJZA Architecture

The apartments would come in a mix of studio, one-, and two-bedroom layouts, and would be rented to low- and moderate-income renters, per an approval letter issued by the City of Los Angeles. That made the project eligible for development incentives permitting a larger structure than otherwise allowed by zoning rules, as well as streamlined approvals via the Mayor's Executive Directive 1.

Kevin Tsai Architecture is designing the project, with JZA Architecture serving as executive architect.

"Architecturally, the design philosophy embraces a dynamic interplay of forms, pushing and pulling each unit along the main façade," reads a design narrative from the JZA website. "An alternating light and dark grey color scheme along Court Ave articulates the building’s massing, imparting a more intimate, human scale. The challenging site, characterized by its steep topography, is expertly carved out of the hillside. The floor plan design meticulously arranges each level to maximize unit count while minimizing excavation, shoring, and grading, ensuring ample natural light for every unit as the building steps into the site on the [first, second, and third floors]."

The project breaks ground after securing a $46.6-million construction loan, arranged by Robert Horton of Concord Summit Capital and Justin Piasecki of George Smith Partners The senior construction loan was provided by J.P. Morgan, while mezzanine financing was arranged by BlueHub Capital and the California Municipal Finance Authority."

1540 W. Court StreetGoogle Maps

“We believe affordable housing should be inspiring, not limiting,” said Terry Harris, principal of Visionary Developments, who founded the company alongside his brother, NBA player Tobias Harris. “At The Court Residences, our goal is to give residents a space where they can grow, thrive, and feel proud of where they live, all while placing them in a neighborhood they desire, with access to opportunity, beauty, and thoughtful design.

The same project team is attached to a number of similar affordable housing developments in the Echo Park area, including a recently-proposed apartment complex at 1275 Sunset Boulevard. Visionary Developments currently has 580 total homes in the planning stages.

The site is also located in close proximity to recent market-rate developments, such as the Bond Companies' Inspire Echo Park complex.

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