Renderings Revealed for Santa Monica Housing Project Intended to Consolidate Developer’s Inclusionary Housing Requirements

This post was written by Staff Writer and published on 2/25/2023 on smmirror.com

Project would replace a parking lot at 1215 19th Street just off of Wilshire

A new affordable housing development has been proposed in Santa Monica, according to a recent presentation to the Santa Monica Architectural Review Board. The project is set to serve as the receiver site for affordable housing required in developer’s Cypress Equity’s neighboring mixed-use project.

The Foundation for Affordable Housing is leading this project, which calls for the construction of a six-story building that will feature 34 apartments rented at below-market rates to eligible households. The project will replace a surface parking lot at 1215 19th Street.

Patrick Tighe Architecture has been tasked with designing the contemporary podium-type building, which is set to be clad in stucco, concrete, and metal panels. The project consists of two primary volumes facing the street: one floating above a glass and stucco podium and a stair tower grounding the building with a strong vertical element. A grid of projecting balconies on the south elevation uses alternating materials to create visual interest and relate to the front elevation. Meanwhile, the alley and north elevations are proposed entirely of stucco – a more subdued interpretation of the front elevation’s concept.

Last year saw a flurry of applications using the previously little-known “Builder’s Remedy” brought plans for more than 4,000 new homes to Santa Monica during a period in which the City’s housing element was out of compliance with state regulators. The site at 1215 19th Street was among those applications, benefiting from state legislation permitting an extra three stories in height beyond zoning code limits as well as exemptions from parking requirements and density limits.

Furthermore, this project is set to serve as the receiver site for affordable housing required in Cypress Equity’s neighboring mixed-use project at 1902 Wilshire Boulevard which includes 71 apartments above ground-floor commercial space. Cypress Equity Investments is behind numerous projects across Santa Monica.