Introduction to the Project
Four rent-controlled cottages in Reseda would be razed to make way for a six-story, 95-unit apartment building by a multifamily developer who’s begun to use the ED1 program in the San Fernando Valley.
Los Angeles-based JZA Architecture submitted a pre-application filing to the Los Angeles City Planning department on behalf of developer Efi Meirson on Sept. 10.
Project Details
Meirson told The Real Deal plans for the San Fernando Valley project will be altered due to new design, but declined to comment further until the tenants in the cottages have moved out early next year. It’s not clear if the developer will use ED1 on the Reseda, but he is seeking some density bonuses some affordable units. EDI requires 100 percent affordable housing.
Location and Current State
The infill site, at 7040-46 Baird Avenue, is a 16,000-square-foot parcel near the corner of Reseda and Baird avenues. There are currently four small cottages on it, all built in the 1930s, according to the county assessor. Two of the homes have one bedroom and one bathroom and clock in at 576 square feet a piece. Two cottages comprise two bedrooms and one bathroom and each span 804 square feet.
Purchase and Development Plans
Meirson bought 7040-46 Baird Avenue in July for $875,000, according to the deed. He seeks regulatory relief and development bonuses from the city in exchange for including affordable housing units. The Baird Avenue proposal now on file fits the same pattern as Meirson’s two nearby projects, at 15931 West Victory Boulevard and 7112 North Baird Avenue, per city planning documents.
Nearby Projects
The former calls for demolishing five rental units and replacing it with a six-story building with 100 units that will be 100 percent affordable. The structure would span 68,000 square feet, JZA’s website indicates. The latter is slated to be a six-story, 34-unit building. Meirson is working with JZA on both of those applications.
Developer’s Perspective
Jeff Zbikowski, founder of JZA, noted in early 2024 that a lot of the ED1 projects he was aware of were in South L.A., but ones were starting to “pop up in nicer areas on the Westside or in the Valley and Reseda, some of these higher-resource areas, where they’re more centered around hedging against nicer areas — providing mixed-income projects within those areas that are always going to be occupied.”
Related News
Tristar trounces appeal against 95-unit apartment building in Reseda. ED1 projects multiply in LA as developers question the math. Despite developer doubts, LA mayor wants to make ED1 permanent.
Conclusion
The proposed project to replace four cottages with a 95-unit apartment building in Reseda marks a significant development in the area, with the potential to provide more housing options. However, the use of the ED1 program and the inclusion of affordable housing units will be crucial in determining the project’s outcome.
FAQs
Q: What is the ED1 program?
A: The ED1 program requires 100 percent affordable housing in exchange for regulatory relief and development bonuses.
Q: How many units will the proposed building have?
A: The proposed building will have 95 units.
Q: What is the current state of the site?
A: The site currently has four small cottages, all built in the 1930s.
Q: Who is the developer behind the project?
A: The developer is Efi Meirson, who is working with JZA Architecture.
Q: What is the expected completion date of the project?
A: The expected completion date has not been announced, as the project is still in the pre-application stage.
