Housing and commercial space rising at Washington & Norton

At a long-empty lot in Arlington Heights, construction has quietly commenced for a mixed-use project which will bring new housing and commercial space to the neighborhood.

The approximately 15,000-square-foot project site, a corner lot at the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Norton Avenue, is being developed with a five-story building which will contain 31 two-bedroom apartments above approximately 2,200 square feet of ground-floor retail and semi-subterranean parking for 52 vehicles.

The project applicant, an entity affiliated with Shalabi Enterprises Partners will be required to set aside three apartments for rent as extremely low-income affordable housing under conditions of approval imposed by the City of Los Angeles.

Khal Khaireddin Architects is designing the project, which will include central and rear-facing courtyards at the second floor and a common rooftop deck. Renderings posted to the firm's website depict the finished product as a low-rise structure clad in brick veneer, stucco, and concrete.

"The project is defined by a blend of contemporary massing with historical sensitivity," reads a design narrative. "Through close collaboration with the local community and neighborhood council, the design references the historical building materials of the neighborhood and expresses itself through a playful geometry. A warm, brick-veneered mass is punctuated with voids that animate the facade. The framed voids provide enclosure for balconies perching over the sidewalk and define human-scaled entry points for the ground floor commercial spaces. A large roof deck overlooking Washington Boulevard provides expansive views of the city in all directions."

The mostly market-rate development is uncommon for this stretch of Washington Boulevard, which has seen numerous plans for mixed-use projects featuring affordable housing and retail space. A few blocks west, Meta Housing Corp. is has broken ground on income-restricted apartment buildings on two City-owned properties at Washington's intersection with Vineyard Avenue.

• 3839 Washington Boulevard (Urbanize LA)