Local developer Yellow Tree Homes is planning a 74-unit, 5-story apartment building at 22nd St and Blaisdell Avenue in Whittier. The proposal was presented to around 25 people at a meeting of the Whittier Alliance neighborhood organization on Monday.
The reaction from around 25 residents in attendance was mixed. One resident, who said he believes the neighborhood needs more housing, wanted to know why it couldn’t be six stories. Another said she was unwilling to support the new building unless the developer performed shadow study, though she acknowledged she thinks that part of the neighborhood is an appropriate place for additional housing.
2201 Blaisdell is currently a 3-story school building. Not the typical target for teardown. But they do have a giant parking lot. Zoned R5. pic.twitter.com/QMToXbybzl— Wedge LIVE! (@WedgeLIVE) June 12, 2017
Unit sizes would range from 350 to 1000 square feet. The developer breaks down the unit types this way: 15 micro studio ($940/mo), 21 micro 1-bedroom ($1195), 6 micro 2-bedroom ($1695), 19 1-bedroom ($1395), and 13 2-bedroom ($2195). Amenities include a deck and garden plots, both located on the roof of the building.
The building would have 49 parking stalls, which exceeds the 37 required by the city (this is calculated based on proximity to transit and number of units). Parking was a concern for a few residents at the meeting. The fact that constructing additional parking would mean higher rents was not discussed.
The developers say they will be requesting a conditional use permit from the city to include an extra story and two additional feet in height, as well as variances to reduce side and rear-yard setbacks. There was no mention of when this project might go before the City Planning Commission.
 |
If you value coverage of hyperlocal meetings that the corporate media won’t cover, consider supporting Wedge LIVE on Patreon!