Relevant Group modified its plans for an affordable housing complex west of the 110 freeway in Westlake. 

The Los Angeles-based firm filed a new application to construct a five-story building at 1316 Linwood Avenue designed to serve lower income residents, Urbanize Los Angeles reported. Affordable developer Holos Communities is partnering on the development. 

The new plans call for 106 units of affordable housing across studio, one- and two-bedroom floor plans. 

The application slims down Relevant’s plans for the site. The firm previously sought to erect an eight-story building with 150 units of permanent supportive housing priced at the low- and very-low-income levels. That’s for incomes between $53,000 and $84,850 annually for one person or between $75,750 and $121,150 for a household of four.

Westlake has emerged as a popular destination for affordable housing developers. 

Last month, Alvarado Center LLC applied to construct a seven-story building with 114 one-bedroom apartments at 212 West Eighth Street and 751-757 South Alvarado Street. All but one of those units would be designated for affordable housing. Meanwhile, Southern California Affordable Housing is pursuing an eight-story building at 2400 West Seventh Street with 148 studio and one-bedroom units. Like Alvarado Center LLC’s recent proposal, it would be entirely affordable, save for a manager’s unit. 

Executive Directive 1, enacted by Mayor Karen Bass in late 2022, has given affordable housing development a boost within L.A. city limits. Under the directive, applications for 100 percent affordable projects can skip the lengthy public hearings process and avoid city council votes, shaving down approval timelines from nine months to a few weeks in most cases, according to the mayor’s office. 

Los Angeles is among the top markets in the country for affordable housing construction. 

Between 2020 and 2024, L.A. ranked seventh nationwide in income-restricted residences produced. Over 9,400 affordable apartment units were completed in those years, accounting for over 20 percent of all multifamily construction in the metro in that period. The city has one of the highest proportions of affordable units to new construction in the country, according to RentCafe. — Chris Malone Méndez

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