The Development Will Include Studio, One-, and Two-Bedroom Units, 13 of Which Will Be Reserved as Affordable Housing
A proposed eight-story, mixed-use development at 2919 Wilshire Boulevard is set to go before the Santa Monica Architectural Review Board.
The project, developed by Cypress Equity Investments (CEI) and designed by OfficeUntitled, would replace an existing commercial building and parking lot with a contemporary structure featuring 127 apartments and approximately 5,700 square feet of ground-floor commercial space, along with four levels of underground parking.
According to a staff report, the development will include studio, one-, and two-bedroom units, 13 of which will be reserved as affordable housing under density bonus incentives that allow for a larger building than zoning regulations typically permit. This bonus has enabled CEI to include 42 additional market-rate units as part of the project.
The building design features a pixelated grid facade with a gradient color palette inspired by the natural hues of the Santa Monica bluffs. Upper floors will include recessed balconies, landscaped outdoor areas, and cut-outs to allow natural light and ventilation. The ground floor will include three retail spaces along Wilshire Boulevard, as well as residential amenities such as a gym and pet spa.
CEI has designed the building’s massing to reduce perceived height, with setbacks on the ground floor and rooftop, creating outdoor amenity spaces, including a rooftop pool development also incorporates a mix of California-native trees, including Bay Laurels on the second-story courtyard and Olive and Dragon trees on the rooftop, with Yew Plum Pines replacing existing trees on Stanford Street.
The Architectural Review Board is expected to review the application and recommend its approval, with final development approval pending from the Planning Commission.
