At its meeting on July 8, the Los Angeles County Regional Planning Commission is scheduled to consider an appeal seeking to block the development of an income-restricted community in Walnut Park.
In February, Hollywood Community Housing Corporation received approvals from the Director of Regional Planning to redevelop two retail buildings at 7600-7616 Pacific Boulevard with a four-story, 64-unit housing complex above 48 basement parking spaces. The mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments would be reserved for households earning 80 percent or less than the area median income.
Koning Eizenberg is designing the proposed development, which would include common amenities such as a community room, a multipurpose room, and a laundry facility. Architectural plans show the completed project as a pair of four-story structures - connected by pedestrian bridges - wrapping around a pair of central courtyards.
The project is faced with an appeal from Henry Vasquez, a neighboring resident who contends that the scale and density of the proposed apartment complex is incompatible with the Walnut Park community. Other residents sent e-mails to the Department of Regional Planning arguing that the development lacks sufficient on-site parking and will increase the value of nearby single-family homes.
A staff report to the Commission recommends that the project should be approved.
The development site is located one block north of a vacant half-acre lot at Pacific Boulevard and Grand Avenue which the County hopes to repurpose as a public park. Walnut Park, home to roughly 16,000 people, is among the most park-poor communities in Los Angeles County.
- 7600-7616 Pacific Boulevard (Urbanize LA)
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