In April 2017, Thomas Safran & Associates (TSA) filed plans with the City of Los Angeles to construct a new affordable housing complex next-door to Holywood's iconic Montecito Apartments. A presentation to the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council has now shed new light on the proposed development.
The project, located at 6650 W. Franklin Avenue, is described as an expansion of the existing senior apartments located within the early 1930s building. The proposed Montecito II, or Building B, would stand six stories in height, featuring 68 units of senior affordable housing in addition to a market-rate manager's apartment.
The new construction would replace a parking lot and a small garden that currently wraps the Montecito.
Withee Malcolm Architects - a frequent collaborator with TSA - is designing the mid-rise edifice, which is portrayed with a similar color and texture to the adjoining historic structure. A mix of studio and one-bedroom apartments would sit above a two-level, 57-car garage, which would include replacement parking for the existing apartments. Plans also call for open space amenities in the form of a community room, a rooftop observation area, and a garden deck at the podium level.
TSA has not announced a timeline for the new development.
The Montecito, notable for its Art Deco architecture with Mayan influence detailing, was designed by the architect Marcus P. Miller. During its roughly 83-year life, it has been called home by a number of Hollywood icons, including Mickey Rooney and Ronald Reagan. Built with 95 units at a cost of $1 million, the 10-story building was converted into 118 senior apartments in the 1980s by TSA.
The Montecito is located a short distance from 1840 N. Highland Avenue, where construction is underway for a 118-unit market rate complex designed by Arquitectonica.
Thomas Safran & Associates has a number of ongoing developments across Southern California, including projects near current and future Metro Rail stations in Inglewood and West Los Angeles.
