Developer WS Communities is planning a mid-rise project featuring affordable housing and street-level retail in Downtown Santa Monica, as detailed in a presentation to the Santa Monica Architectural Review Board.

Slated to replace a currently vacant lot at 1514 7th Street, the proposed eight-story building would include 50 residential units atop 963 square feet of ground-floor retail space.  Similar to other recent projects announced in Downtown Santa Monica, the development would not include automobile parking.

The 50 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments planned at 1514 7th Street are intended to satisfy the off-site affordable housing requirements imposed on two other WS Communities projects, one of which is the 100-unit building planned across the street at 1543 7th Street.

The design for 1514 7th Street by KFA Architecture is described as contemporary, with a mass that is separated into two volumes punctuated by balconies.

The Architectural Review Board is set to provide feedback on the WS Communities project, but not to vote for approval or denial.  1514 7th is one of two affordable developments under constideration by the Board this week, the other being a 37-unit project at 1238 7th Street.

The proposed development is the latest Santa Monica project planned without on-site parking, including a market-rate rate block proposed at 525 Colorado Avenue.

Interested in finding affordable housing? Visit housing.lacity.org.