A surface parking lot near Ascot Hills Park could be improved with a four-story mixed-use development featuring 22 apartments and one ground-floor retail space.
The proposed project at 4221 Huntington Drive calls for a mix of studio and one-bedroom units, ranging from 407 to 547 square feet. The applicant, Brian Martin, is requesting a 35 percent density bonus in exchange for the inclusion of four affordable housing units. Each apartment would boast ample closet space, a linear or L-shaped kitchen, and a private balcony of approximately 50 square feet.
The building’s first floor would provide 13 parking spaces, a residential lobby, and a 514-square-foot corner retail space that could accommodate “a small organic produce market or a cafe,” according to a findings document.
Resident amenities would be found on the second floor, including an indoor community room and an adjacent landscaped terrace with amphitheater seating, wood benches and drought-tolerant plants.
Designed by Los Angeles architect David Gonzalez Rojas, the building’s eastern façade along Huntington Drive would showcase a covered entryway with a bench, burnt orange accents to drawn attention to the commercial space, and a punched concrete wall that would improve air circulation in the garage.
The material palette would consist of cement plaster and cast-in-place concrete, metal balcony guardrails, and bronze-trimmed windows and sliders. Three Jacaranda trees and an innovative stormwater planter featuring Peruvian apple cacti and two species of sage would help to enliven the streetscape.
Named the ‘Huntington Apartments,’ the proposed project would be steps away from Ascot Hills Park, a sprawling greenspace that offers miles of hiking trails, stunning views of DTLA and a small amphitheater. Future residents would live within quick commuting distance of downtown or the Keck Hospital of USC. Nearby El Sereno also offers day-to-day conveniences like grocery stores, fast-casual restaurants and gas stations.
