NBA Stars Make Triple Affordable Apartment Play in Echo Park

Terry and Tobias Harris of Visionary Development Group want to build three affordable housing projects with a combined 270 apartments in Echo Park.

The brothers, former or current basketball players in the NBA, have filed plans to build the apartment buildings at 333 Douglas Street, 1230 Sunset Boulevard and 1540 Court Street, Urbanize Los Angeles reported, citing plans revealed by Kevin Tsai Architecture.

They would replace small homes and commercial buildings.

Each project was filed under Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ Executive Order 1, which streamlines approval for affordable housing.

A five-story building, designed by Majid Nadel, would contain 33 apartments for low- and middle-income households at 333 Douglas. Oddly, the white complex has no windows facing the street, while towering over the single-family homes next door, according to a rendering.

An eight-story building, designed by Warren Techentin Architecture, would contain 79 affordable apartments above ground-floor shops at 1230 Sunset Boulevard. The charcoal, brown and white complex would step up from the street, with swooping gables at each end, according to a rendering.

A six-story building, designed by JZA Architecture, would include 165 apartments for low- and middle-income households at 1540 Court Street. The project, dubbed Court Apartments, resembles a dark gray curved wall of overlapping Hollywood Squares, according to a rendering.

Terry Harris is a former professional basketball player for the NBA G League’s Delaware Blue Coats and now develops real estate along with his brother, Tobias Harris, of the league’s Philadelphia 76ers.

Their Visionary Development Group, based in Downtown Los Angeles, was founded in 2019, according to its website. The firm aims to develop 1,000 units of affordable housing this year, primarily in Los Angeles, according to Opportunity Finance Network.

Terry Harris, who lives in L.A., oversees a development portfolio of more than 270 properties, managing projects valued at more than $95 million, according to his company website. The firm also has built single-family luxury homes in Joshua Tree.

— Dana Bartholomew