PROJECT NAME:  Wilshire and La Brea Project

PROJECT LOCATION/ADDRESS:  5200-5224 Wilshire Boulevard, 700-758 La Brea Avenue, and 719-757 Sycamore Avenue

COMMUNITY PLANNING AREA:  Wilshire

COUNCIL DISTRICT:  CD-4

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:  BRE Properties, Inc. is proposing to build a mixed-use residential and retail project on a 3.4-acre site at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and La Brea Avenue in the Wilshire Community Plan area.  Specifically, the site is bounded by Wilshire Boulevard on the north, Sycamore Avenue on the east, West 8^th Street on the south, and La Brea Avenue on the west. 

The project would consist of 562 residential units and approximately 45,000 square feet of commercial space.  The residential mix would include 138 one-bedroom studio units, 315 one-bedroom apartment units, 99 two-bedroom apartment units, and 10 two-bedroom townhome units.  The retail component would include 37,000 square feet of general retail and 8,000 square feet of restaurant space.  Residents-only amenities would include indoor recreation and fitness areas, an outdoor pool, a spa, and both public and private open space gardens and decks.

The proposed structure would consist of six levels of apartment dwellings atop an elevated base; the base would be approximately 20 feet above street level at the Wilshire Boulevard end of the property and approximately 28 feet above street level at 8^th Street.

The residential floors would consist of two elements: a primary structure arranged in a “wing” configuration, which would create building “fingers” that would surround open-ended courtyards, and a smaller “bar” structure along the base edge at Sycamore Avenue. The taller building would be six stories plus mezzanines above the base, while the smaller building would be two stories above the base. Overall, the taller building would be a maximum of 100 feet above grade, and the smaller building would be up to 44 feet above grade. An accent tower at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and La Brea Avenue would be up to 130 feet above grade; the highest parts would contain equipment and provide a decorative element for the building.  The proposed structure would have a floor area ratio (FAR) of 3.4:1.

The project would provide a total of approximately 62,000 square feet of open space.  Of this total, 8,100 square feet of open space would be at grade and would consist of a large strip of landscaping along Sycamore Avenue and smaller intermittent planters along Wilshire Boulevard, La Brea Avenue, and West 8^th Street, along with paved areas in plazas.  The remainder would include over 39,000 square feet of open space on a 2^nd floor pool deck, and 22,400 square feet of open space in private decks. 

A total of 1,083 parking spaces would be provided on 4 ½ levels.  Parking would be provided in a partial above-ground “mezzanine” level, in a ground level and in a 2.5 level subterranean structure. The retail and commercial parking spaces would be provided within a partial above-ground mezzanine level located at the southern end of the project site, in the at-grade parking level, and in the top subterranean parking level. Residential parking spaces would be provided in the 2.5 subterranean parking levels.  Access points to the parking structure would be located on Sycamore Avenue (residential and retail), and West 8^th Street (residential and retail.) Loading zones are proposed to be located completely within the interior of the structure.

If you wish to review a copy of the Final EIR Environmental Impact Report (Final EIR) or the documents referenced in the Final EIR, you may do so at the City of Los Angeles, Department of City Planning at 200 North Spring Street, Room 750, Los Angeles, 90012. 

Copies of the Final EIR are also available at the following library locations:

1) Central Library – 630 W. 5^th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071

2) Memorial Branch Library – 4625 W. Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90019

3) Fairfax Branch Library – 161 S. Gardner Street, Los Angeles, CA 90036

The Final EIR is also available online at the Department of City Planning’s website [www.lacity.org/PLN (click on “Environmental” and then “Final Environmental Impact Reports”)].  The Final EIR can be purchased on cd-rom for $7.50 per copy. Contact Jimmy Liao at (213) 978-1331 to purchase one.

PUBLIC HEARING INFORMATION: To determine the date and time that the pertinent project will be considered by the decision-making body, please call the appropriate office from among the following:

Site Plan review.............(213)978-1219 (SPR Suffixes)

Commission Secretary...(213)978-1295 (All CPC Cases-ZC,CUD, CUC suffixes)

Advisory Agency...........(213)978-1362 (Tentative Tract Maps-SUB suffixes)

Zoning Administrator......(213)978-1318 (All ZA Cases –ZV, CUZ, ZAA suffixes)

Public Counter...............(213)978-482-7077 (To obtain CPC or ZA Case No.)

Expediting Cases...........(213)978-1416