In Chinatown, modular units are now being stacked into place at the site of a new rebar mixed-use apartment complex from Thrive Living.

The project, located just east of L.A. State Historic Park  at 1457 N. Main Street, replaced a food processing facility with what will eventually be a six-story structure containing 376 studio and one-bedroom apartments atop 6,448 square feet of ground-floor commercial space and parking for 82 vehicles.

Construction of the Main Street ApartmentsAO and Mason Muratalla

AO is designing the Main Street Apartments, which is portrayed in plans as a contemporary structure that will also feature a amenities such as a rooftop deck, street-level courtyards, a gym, a recreation room, and a business center. The use of modular construction is expected to reduce overall costs by 15 percent, according to the firm.

Project entitlements require Thrive Living to set aside 42 apartments for rent as extremely low-income affordable housing. However, the developer has also announced its intent to target the remaining unrestricted units to moderate-income renters earning up to 80 percent of the area median income level - a category that may include teachers and nurses. The property will also accept applicants with Housing Choice Vouchers.

Completion of the Main Street Apartments is expected in 2025.

Aerial view of 1457 N. Main Street looking southwestThrive Living

"It’s incredibly rewarding to see the progress at Main Street Apartments," said AO partner Ioanna Magiati in a statement. "This project is particularly meaningful as it brings nearly 400 transit-oriented workforce housing units to an area of LA where they’re urgently needed to help address the housing shortage. This achievement is the result of a remarkable collaboration with our client, Thrive Living, community stakeholders, and the City," said AO Partner Ioanna Magiati. "By leveraging modular design and construction, we’ve not only minimized disruption to the surrounding neighborhood but also accelerated the timeline, allowing these vital homes to become available quickly so the community can immediately benefit from this project."

Thrive Living has even bigger plans in the works for the Los Angeles area. The company broke ground earlier this year on an 800-unit apartment complex with a Costco on its ground floor in Baldwin Hills.

Thrive's Chinatown project is one of a handful of new developments reshaping the industrial blocks to the east of L.A. State Historic Park, including a 280-unit apartment complex now under construction a short distance northwest at 200 N. Mesnager Street and a 445-unit complex proposed one block north facing Spring Street.

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