A series of empty buildings in South L.A.'s Vermont Knolls neighborhood could be razed for new housing and commercial space, according to an application submitted recently to the Department of City Planning.

1218-1234 W Manchester AvenueGoogle Street View

The proposed project, slated for a .62-acre site at 1218-1234 W. Manchester Avenue, would consist of a five-story edifice featuring 132 rental apartments above 5,444 square feet of ground-floor retail and semi-subterranean parking for 113 vehicles.

Project applicant 1218 West Manchester Associates, LLC - an entity managed by Philip Cohen and Yoaz Atzmon - has filed for entitlements using density bonus incentives and a conditional use permit to allow for a larger structure than the property is zoned for.  In exchange for the incentives, 18 of the proposed apartments would be set aside as deed-restricted affordable housing at the very low-income level.

Local architecture and construction firm Ketter is designing the apartment complex, which is depicted in renderings as a contemporary podium-type building clad in orange, black, and white stucco.  Floor plans show on-site amenities including two gyms, a community room, a central courtyard, and a series of rear-facing decks at the top level.

1218-1234 W Manchester AvenueGoogle Maps

Project entitlements will require sign-offs from the Los Angeles City Planning Commission.

The development site sits a short walk west of the intersection Manchester and Vermont Avenue, where Los Angeles County has tapped developer BRIDGE Housing to build affordable housing on a long-empty property.