Five-story, 50-unit development to replace commercial buildings on Pico

After scoring approvals for an apartment building south of Wilshire Boulevard in Westwood, developer Brennen Hakimian and Warren Techentin Architecture (WTARCH) will now try their hand at a mixed-use project on one of L.A.'s busiest commercial thoroughfares.

Late in 2021, Hakimian submitted an application to the Los Angeles Department of City Planning seeking approvals to raze a pair of nondescript commercial buildings at 10608-10614 W. Pico Boulevard to clear the way for the construction of a new five-story, 50-unit apartment building with 5,900 square feet of ground-floor retail space and subterranean parking for 49 vehicles.

Requested entitlements include Transit Oriented Communities incentives permitting a taller, denser building than otherwise permitted by zoning rules. In exchange, five of the proposed studio apartments would be set aside as deed-restricted affordable housing at the extremely low-income level.

WTARCH's design for the podium-type building calls for an exterior of smooth stucco and blue tile. Planned amenities include a courtyard, a recreation room, a gym, and a rooftop deck.

Hakimiam and WTARCH's other projects include a pair of co-living projects on Veteran Avenue in Westwood.