The Los Angeles City Council approved a categorical exemption under CEQA and upheld the approval of a new 8-story, 86,700 square-foot residential building at 638 South Berendo Street. The project will include 163 residential units, of which 18 will be set aside for Extremely Low Income Households. The development will feature seven residential levels above one ground-floor level with lobby space and parking, along with one subterranean parking level. The building will provide a total of 39 automobile parking spaces and 118 bicycle parking spaces. The site, currently an underutilized parking lot, will be transformed into a transit-oriented development, supporting the city's goal of increasing housing supply near major transit hubs. The appeal filed against the project by Supporters Alliance for Environmental Responsibility (SAFER) was denied, with the Council determining that the project qualifies for a CEQA Class 32 exemption.
This project increases the supply of affordable and market-rate housing in Los Angeles, addressing the city's housing shortage. Its transit-oriented location promotes walkability and sustainability while providing much-needed affordable housing units.