An affiliate of JZA Architecture has beat back an appeal trying to block a 332-unit affordable senior apartment building in West Hills.
JZ Development, based at the Culver City-based architecture firm led by Jeff Zbikowski, won support of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission, which rejected appeals by three neighbors of the five-story complex planned for 7556-7572 North Woodlake Avenue, Urbanize Los Angeles reported.
In May, an undisclosed entity bulldozed a two-story Dutch Colonial Revival home, built in 1927, on the 4.2-acre building site for JZ Development, owned by the Ross family trust, according to Valley News Group.
Approved plans for the 187,900-square-foot project call for 332 affordable apartments for low- and moderate-income seniors, with parking for 154 cars.
JZ employed the mayor’s Executive Directive 1, which streamlines approval for affordable housing, according to Urbanize.
The firm also obtained density bonus incentives to permit a larger structure than would be allowed by zoning rules, as well as the removal of any restrictions on residential density.
The Mediterranean-style complex, designed by JZA, would be clad in white, with red tile roofs and exterior balconies in front of sliding doors.
The project was appealed by three local homeowners who argued that the covenants and restrictions for the west San Fernando Valley neighborhood limit construction on the project site to one-story single-family home.
They also contended that any changes to the tract’s covenants, conditions and restrictions require approval of two thirds of property owners.
In response, JZ argued that the condition regarding single-family homes only applied to lots 1-207 of the tract — while the project site is lot 208. The JZA affiliate also pointed to language indicating that the condition imposing the limitation expired more than a century ago, in 1916.
A staff presentation also pointed out that the covenants, conditions and restrictions included a provision prohibiting sale of land to any person of African, Chinese or Japanese descent, according to Urbanize.
Racial covenants have not been legally unenforceable since 1947, and are required to be removed from the books by a state law passed in 2022.
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