New angles of the proposed residential high-rise at 8th and Hope

After more than two years of quiet, Mitsui Fudosan America (MFA) is changing up its plans for its second residential high-rise in Downtown Los Angeles.

The proposed development, first submitted to the Planning Department in 2017, would rise from a property bounded by 8th Street, Hope Street, and Grand Avenue, replacing a garage and a surface parking lot.  At the time, plans called more than 40-story building featuring at least 547 residential units above 7,499 square feet of ground-floor retail space and a nearly 600-car garage. 

While the project previously included a design option to incorporate a 37,000-square-foot elementary school a new entitlement filing indicates that MFA has instead opted for a larger residential component for the building.  Plans now call for a 50-story edifice that would feature 580 apartments on its upper floors.

"Additional units were able to be incorporated from the initial submittal as we integrated and optimized different programs and systems, primarily the garage area, building structure, and vertical transportation," explains MFA vice president Stuart Morkun in an e-mail.  "Considering the shortage of housing, we generally think it is best to maximize the number of dwellings, particularly downtown where it is a nexus for transportation, employment, entertainment and culture."

The look of the Gensler-designed tower remains largely the same from its earlier submission.  Plans call for an approximately 592-foot-tall building with a series of terrace decks stepping back from Hope Street, each of which would be used as an amenity deck for residents.  Proposed finishes include glass, concrete, aluminum, and stone.

According to an initial study published by the Planning Department in 2019, construction of the 8th and Hope tower is anticipated to occur over approximately 36 months.

The proposed tower is the second planned by MFA for Downtown Los Angeles, following a 42-story apartment building now rising two blocks west at the intersection of 8th and Figueroa Streets.

• 754 S Hope Street (Urbanize LA)