New look for residential-retail complex at 3355 W Olympic Boulevard

A presentation to the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council's Land Use Committee unveils a new look for a proposed mixed-use apartment complex near the intersection of Olympic Boulevard and Western Avenue in Koreatown.

The project, named "The Bora," is slated for an L-shaped property located at 3355-3377 W. Olympic Boulevard that is improved with vacant commercial buildings and surface parking. Plans submitted earlier this year to the City of Los Angeles call for the construction of a seven-story building featuring 153 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments with 5,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space. Parking for 219 vehicles would be located at-grade and in two subterranean levels.

Bando Dela Corp., the developer, has requested the approval of Transit Oriented Communities incentives to permit a larger structure than allowed by zoning rules. In exchange, 16 of the apartments would be set aside as deed-restricted affordable housing at the extremely low-income level.

Andmore Partners is designing the building, which has done away with earlier plans of white plaster, wood siding, and corrugated metal for a grey exterior. Plans for amenities including a rooftop terrace, a podium deck, and recreation rooms remain unchanged.

Responses to a community outreach meeting indicate that Bando Dela Corp. is planning to convert the project to condominiums during the course of construction.

The Bora is Bando Dela Corp.'s second large mixed-use project in the Koreatown area, following a 252-unit apartment complex now wrapping up work a short distance east at Olympic and Hobart Boulevards.

The project site also sits just west of the intersection of Olympic and Manhattan Place, where Jamison Services recently broke ground on a similar mixed-use project which will feature 118 apartments above ground-floor commercial space.

The Bora is the second project proposed for the property at 3355-3377 Olympic, following plans submitted more than five years to build a 146-unit senior housing complex on the site. The developer behind that project has since filed for bankruptcy.

• 3377 W Olympic Boulevard (Urbanize LA)