Abington Emerson Wins Appeal for 36 Units in LA’s West Adams

Abington Emerson Investments has beat back an appeal seeking to block the construction of 36 apartments in West Adams.

The Sawtelle-based developer was backed by the Los Angeles Planning Commission, which voted to uphold the approval of the five-story complex at 4101-4109 West Exposition Boulevard, Urbanize Los Angeles reported.

The project, approved by the city’s Planning Department in February, would replace three single-story apartment building with 10 units built during World War II.

Plans call for 36 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments at Exposition and Buckingham Road, with parking for 28 cars.

Abington Emerson sought Transit Oriented Communities incentives to build a larger building than allowed by local zoning rules in exchange for five affordable apartments for low-, very low- and extremely low-income households to make up for the demolished units.

The white complex, designed by Venice-based Ottinger Architects, would be clad in stucco, metal siding and perforated metal panels, punctuated by brown exterior balconies. The building would include a central courtyard and a rooftop deck.

The developer won the appeal filed by Mindy Zhao, owner of a neighboring property, who contended the project was improperly approved for an insufficient number of affordable apartments, given the number to be demolished. She also argued environmental impacts were not taken into account.

Planning staff said the project is required to comply with state and local regulations relative to the demolition of existing rent-stabilized housing, and was revised to include one more affordable unit.

It’s not clear why Abington Emerson called for seven affordable units in September 2022, but was ultimately approved for five – half the number of apartments to be bulldozed, according to Urbanize.

The apartments would be developed west of Metro’s Expo/Crenshaw Station, where a large mixed-use complex featuring housing and commercial space is in the works for sites owned by Metro and Los Angeles County.

Abington Emerson, founded in 2008 by Joshua Perttula and Adam Bass, has more than $250 million in assets under management as a result of more than 500 real estate deals in California, Arizona, Colorado, Indiana and Texas, according to its website. It also has 10 qualified Opportunity Zone funds, including one focusing on Jefferson Boulevard in West Adams.

— Dana Bartholomew