A prominent corner lot in Mid-City that has been vacant for more than a quarter-century could finally be developed, according to an application submitted to the Los Angeles Department of City Planning.

The proposed project, slated for a roughly 12,400-square-foot site at the northeast corner of Washington and La Brea Avenues, calls for the construction of a new five-story edifice containing 54 studio, one-, and two-bedroom apartments above 3,268 square feet of ground-floor retail space and semi-subterranean parking for 54 vehicles.

Developer Ketter Construction is seeking density bonus incentives for the apartment complex, permitting a larger structure with more residential units than allowed by the property's base zoning.  In exchange, a total of seven apartments would be set aside as deed-restricted affordable housing at the very low-income level.

The requested incentives will require the approval of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission.

Ketter's in-house architects are designing the proposed development, which is depicted in a rendering as a contemporary low-rise structure consisting of wood-frame construction over a concrete podium.  Plans call for an exterior of white stucco and wood siding, with on-site amenities including a courtyard, a rooftop deck, and a recreation room.

Ketter, which acquired the Washington-La Brea site in 2017 for approximately $2.2 million, is developing similar mixed-use projects in Van Nuys, Harvard Heights, and San Pedro.  The real estate firm is also behind plans for multiple multifamily housing complexes in the Mid-City neighborhood.

Other developers with projects in the surrounding area include Meta Housing Corp., which is planning affordable housing and retail for two City-owned parking lots at 4600 and 4601 W. Washington Boulevard.