At a ceremony last week, construction commenced for The Arlington, an affordable housing development on the former site of an oil drilling facility in Arlington Heights.

The project from Thomas Safran & Associates, located at 3300 Washington Boulevard, spans an L-shaped site along the south side of the street between 3rd and 4th Avenues. Plans approved in 2020 call for the construction of a four-story building that would contain 84 rental apartments above ground-floor retail space and parking. Of that total, half of the apartments are to be reserved as permanent supportive housing.

View of 3300 Washington Boulevard looking northeast from 3rd AvenueWithee Malcolm Architects

Project entitlements include density bonus incentives allowing a larger structure than zoning rules would normally permit, the apartments will be priced for households ranging from the low-income to extremely low-income levels.

BSB Design is designing the apartment complex, which would feature an exterior of brick veneer and shared amenities such as a fitness center, club rooms, and podium-level courtyards. In total, plans call for 8,500 square feet of open space.

Work on the project comes roughly a half-year after the Los Angeles City Council voted to adopt a resolution approving a financing plan for the project which includes up to $45 million in multifamily housing revenue bonds.

Aerial view of The Arlington looking eastGary Leonard

Completion of The Arlington, expected on late 2025, requires extensive soil remediation due to the site's prior use, with approval by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board and funding in part through an Equitable Community Revitalization Grant. Environmental cleanup, including the removal of 185 cubic yards of soil, will occur prior to the completion of construction.

“This development will add 84 units of much-needed affordable housing to the Arlington Heights neighborhood for individuals and families with low, very low, and extremely low incomes, setting aside half for formerly homeless households,” said Thomas Safran & Associates president Jordan Pynes. “Addressing this affordable housing and homelessness crisis in Los Angeles has been the primary focus of TSA, and we are proud that Arlington can be another part of the solution. We are thankful to Councilmember Heather Hutt and all our partners, including the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, for their support. This project would not have been possible without them.”

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