At its July meeting, the West Hollywood Planning Commission granted unanimous approval to a proposed mixed-use development at the corner of Fairfax Avenue and Romaine Street.

Empire Property Group, the Los Angeles-based real estate firm which controls the site at 7905 Romaine, intends to construct a five-story building containing 34 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments - including five units of affordable housing - atop street-level commercial uses.  Plans also call for amenities such as a fitness center, a spa deck, a swimming pool, and a rooftop deck.

The Empire at Fairfax, the first mixed-use project by Empire Property Group, will use courtyard space and differentiated building materials to break up the low-rise structure's mass.  Its south-facing courtyard is intended to allow natural lighting and cross-ventilation into the building's interior, as well as the addition of a green wall.

The Fairfax building is intended to exceed the requirements of West Hollywood's Green Building program through the use of an on-site solar array and sustainable landscaping.

Empire is currently in the midst of construction for another multifamily residential project in West Hollywood limits - a 34-unit building on Norton Avenue.