An empty lot at 723 Ocean Front Walk at Venice Beach is slated for redevelopment with housing and retail space, per an application submitted this month to the Los Angeles Department of City Planning.

Benjamin Schonbrun, who previously leased an office building on the property to Snapchat maker Snap, Inc., is seeking approvals from Planning officials to construct a new three-story building on the site featuring 16 studio and one-bedroom apartments on its upper floors, averaging 514 square feet in size. Below that, plans call for 1,574 square feet of ground-floor commercial space and parking for 16 vehicles in stackers.

View of 723 Ocean Front Walk looking northeastGoogle Street View

Schonbrun's requested entitlements include density bonus incentives, permitting a larger structure than allowed by zoning rules, in exchange for providing two of the proposed apartments as affordable housing priced at the very low-income level.

Breakform Design is the architect behind 723 Ocean Front Walk, which is portrayed as a contemporary low-rise building lined with balconies and clad in wood panels.

723 Ocean Front Walk Google Maps

The project site was made available for redevelopment as a result of a fire in January 2021 which destroyed the 68-year-old, nearly 7,000-square-foot commercial building which previously stood on the property. Schonbrun sued Snap, Inc. later that year, arguing that the tech company had vacated the building prior to the end of its lease, and consequently abandoned its responsibilities for safety and upkeep of the property.

The proposed mixed-use development is one of a handful of similar infill projects recently proposed or built along the Venice Boardwalk, including another housing and commercial project approved at 811 Ocean Front Walk.