Affordable housing planned at 706 W. 85th Street in South L.A.

Land owned by a South Los Angeles church is up for redevelopment with affordable housing, per a new Executive Directive 1 application to the Planning Department.

The proposed project, slated for property at 706 W. 85th Street, would rise on property owned by St. Rest Friendship Church, which has its main building fronting Manchester Avenue one block south. Plans call for the new construction of a four-story building featuring 62 one- and two-bedroom apartments above a ground-floor parking garage.

As the apartments to be fully restricted to rent by low- and moderate-income households - with the exception of a mandatory manager's unit - the project is eligible for density bonus incentives permitting waivers from certain development standards.

JZA Architecture is designing the contemporary low-rise structure, according to plans included with the application.

"The use of building materials and finishes and newly added landscape will result in an attractive design that will promote better urban design and enhance the aesthetics of the community...." reads a narrative. "The north corner of the building is kept simple, as a modern plaster tower that steps back. The ground floor street wall is clad with wood look material at Baring Cross to add warmth and to articulate the streetscape. The front façade above the wood base changes to a trio of gable roof and introduces projecting frames that separate the figures from both the wood base and the adjacent modern form."

City records list the project applicant as Logos Faith Development, a Los Angeles-based firm specializing in the redevelopment of church-owned land. Such projects have been facilitated by SB 4, which was signed into law by Governor Newsom in 2023.

The site is located a short walk to the east from a similar affordable housing complex now taking shape at 800. W 85th. That project, called Domus Ambrosia, will feature 90 apartments.

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Looking for affordable housing? Visit lahousing.lacity.org/aahr and housing.lacounty.gov

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