Building type: Adaptive Reuse. Conversion of former hotel property into 100% affordable residential units.

# Residential Units = 572 units permitted

• West Tower = 7 stories
• Central Tower = 8 stories
• East Tower = 9 stories
• Note: Approved Building Permit does not specify # of units per tower.

Building Specs per Building & Safety Permitting Docs: 

• All 1 bedroom units
• All include kitchenette
• Open space and resident amenities include many elements associated with the building’s previous hotel function: fitness, pool, laundry etc.
• No parking required for autos or bikes per AB 2097.
• Unclear from Building & Safety documentation what is planned for existing on-site parking area.

Income-Qualified Apartment Mix: Specifics are Unclear

• Project description indicates 229 units (~40%) be designated for “80% AMI” or “Low Income” residents
• The project is recorded in the Building and Safety permit as being “100% affordable”
• However, confusingly, the building permit says “572 MI residential units” which we would normally read as 572 units for Medium or Moderate Income level residents.  However, none of the paper work we were able to uncover clarifies this point. We are attempting to get clarification on this point from the developer.

Timeline

• Building Permit Approval Date: 06/18/2025
• Adaptation Construction Start Date: Unknown
• Adaptation Construction Completion Date: Unknown
• Occupancy Date: Unknown

Given this is our community’s first Adaptive Reuse project, here’s some background on LA’s pending ordinance. 

Adaptive Reuse Ordinance (ARO) Current Draft 

As of this reporting, the City of Los Angeles has yet to approve Revision 2 of the draft ARO.  However, it’s probably safe to assume this project (9750 Airport) is being given incentives and permissions in line with the draft ordinance.

• Unit Size: there are no minimum unit sizes given for adaptive reuse. The ordinance is intended to apply to a variety of possible commercial building adaptations including Dwelling Units, Efficiency Dwelling Units, Supportive Housing, Dormitories, Boarding Houses, Hostels, Guest Rooms, Live/Work Units or Joint Living and Work Quarters.
• Procedure for review and approval: Handled 100% by the Building & Safety Department. Specifically administrative, fire and safety, and zoning review. As this is not a “new build” the Planning Department is not involved.

Current Draft Incentives (Note: the 9750 Airport Project does not necessarily take advantage of all of these elements. Given the limited information available in Building & Safety Permit docs, it’s hard to tell which incentives the developer has chosen to activate.)

• Rooftop Amenity Structures: ok to add and doesn’t get counted into total sq ft for the floor area calcs.
• Intermediate Levels: ok to add levels between existing floor and ceilings and the space they create are not part of floor area calcuations.
• Density: not subject to the minimum lot area per dwelling unit requirements of the zone where located.
• Parking: when an adaptive reuse project is near a major transit stop, there is no minimum requirement—in compliance with AB 2097—for on-site parking.
• Floor Area: Existing floor area that exceeds what’s permitted in the zone, height district, specific plan or any other land use regulation is allowed to remain.
• Floor Area Reallocation: any floor area that might be removed to create interior light wells, courtyards (etc) may be reallocated to building additions.
• Height:  the existing height remains, even if it’s out of compliance with the local zone.
• Yards & Setbacks: existing set up is allowed to remain even if it’s not compliant with regulations.
• Step-Backs & Transitional Height: an adapted building is not required to comply with otherwise applicable upper story or building massing provisions of the local code.