LOS ANGELES — A city commission on Thursday, March 14, moved forward a proposal to demolish the Beverly Plaza Shopping Center, a strip mall near the Beverly Center, for a proposed eight-story, mixed-use building.
The Planning Commission voted 7-0 in favor of the proposed development by J.J. Abraham and 400 S. Vicente LLC. Commissioners Caroline Choe and Karen Mack were absent during the vote.
According to Planning Assistant David Woon, who is overseeing the project, will bring online 126 dwelling units, of which 14 will be reserved for very-low income households, and 11,615 square feet of ground floor for commercial space.
Additionally, the project will provide 6,200 square feet of open space and add 32 new trees with amenities such as a fitness center, multiple lounge areas and an outdoor pool.
The project will be constructed over three underground parking levels that will provide spaces for 153 vehicles and 109 bicycles.
“The project site is currently developed with a commercial strip mall, two story commercial building and associated parking lots,” Woon said. “While the project will demolish the existing (structures), the proposed development will maintain commercial uses on the site and will continue to promote commercial vibrancy along the San Vicente corridor.”
Woon noted the proposed development, located at 400 S. San Vicente Boulevard, near La Cienega Boulevard and the border with Beverly Hills, will be located near the future Wilshire/La Cienega station as part of Metro’s D (Purple) Line Expansion Project.
Commissioners approved the project as well as project entitlements to allow the construction of a larger building than zoning rules would normally permit.
Representatives of 400 S. Vicente LLC said they were proud of their efforts to better the project and ensure they addressed concerns from nearby residents, particularly those from the Beverly Wilshire Homes Association.
Some of these mitigation measures include fencing, security cameras, and courtesy patrols to address safety issues in and around the property.
The representatives also touted improvements to their driveway plans in an effort to reduce ingress and egress of vehicles, extended landscape and retail designs and relocated the planned rooftop pool further away from the homes along Fourth Street to create a noise and sound buffer.
Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky, who represents the Fifth District, which includes the area for this project, has been working with the applicant on the project.
Jennifer Torres, planning deputy for Yaroslavsky’s office, added the applicant agreed to additional conditions — no selling of alcohol and limited outdoor noise on the eighth floor by 10 p.m. On the commercial floors, alcohol sales will be permitted until 11 p.m. and indoor alcohol sales to midnight.
The applicant also committed to landscaping and maintaining the area free of trash.
A few residents gave public testimony in support of the project, such as Kevin DiPietro, who owns a duplex on West Fourth Street near the proposed development.
He and his wife have lived in the area for more than three years and were concerned at first when they heard about the project. But, they think the project will add value to the neighborhood.
“We ask the commission to approve this project and incorporate the mitigation measures referenced as conditions of approval,” DiPietro said.
Two tenants of the strip mall opposed the project. According to representatives of 400 S. Vicente LCC, the property owners inherited 14 different leases.
Two of those leases have yet to be resolved — and tenants who operate India’s Grill say conversations have not gone well, adding they fear the project will negatively impact their families and livelihood.
The project will now be heard by the City Council’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee at a later date.
