Wilshire and La Brea Project

Draft Environmental Impact Report

EIR Case File No. ENV-2007-1604-EIR
SCH No: 2007071053

Prepared for:

Los Angeles Department of City Planning
200 N. Spring Street
Los Angeles, California 90012-2601

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PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

BRE Properties, Inc. is proposing to build a mixed-use residential and retail project on a 3.4-acre site at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and La Brea Avenue in the Wilshire Community Plan area. Specifically, the site is bounded by Wilshire Boulevard on the north, Sycamore Avenue on the east, West 8^th Street on the south, and La Brea Avenue on the west.

The project would consist of 562 residential units and approximately 45,000 square feet of commercial space. The residential mix would include 138 one-bedroom studio units, 315 one-bedroom apartment units, 99 two-bedroom apartment units, and 10 two-bedroom townhome units. The retail component would include 37,000 square feet of general retail and 8,000 square feet of restaurant space. Residents-only amenities would include indoor recreation and fitness areas, an outdoor pool, a spa, and both public and private open space gardens and decks.

The proposed structure would consist of six levels of apartment dwellings atop an elevated base; the base would be approximately 20 feet above street level at the Wilshire Boulevard end of the property and approximately 28 feet above street level at 8^th Street.

The residential floors would consist of two elements: a primary structure arranged in a "wing" configuration, which would create building "fingers" that would surround open-ended courtyards, and a smaller "bar" structure along the base edge at Sycamore Avenue. The taller building would be six stories plus mezzanines above the base, while the smaller building would be two stories above the base. Overall, the taller building would be a maximum of 100 feet above grade, and the smaller building would be up to 44 feet above grade. An accent tower at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and La Brea Avenue would be up to 130 feet above grade; the highest parts would contain equipment and provide a decorative element for the building. The proposed structure would have a floor area ratio (FAR) of 3.4:1.

The project would provide a total of approximately 62,000 square feet of open space. Of this total, 8,100 square feet of open space would be at grade and would consist of a large strip of landscaping along Sycamore Avenue and smaller intermittent planters along Wilshire Boulevard, La Brea Avenue, and West 8^th Street, along with paved areas in plazas. The remainder would include over 39,000 square feet of open space on a 2^nd floor pool deck, and 22,400 square feet of open space in private decks.

A total of 1,083 parking spaces would be provided on 4¹/2 levels. Parking would be provided in a partial above-ground "mezzanine" level, in a ground level and in a 2.5 level subterranean structure. The retail and commercial parking spaces would be provided within a partial above­ground mezzanine level located at the southern end of the project site, in the at-grade parking level, and in the top subterranean parking level. Residential parking spaces would be provided in the 2.5 subterranean parking levels. Access points to the parking structure would be located on Sycamore Avenue (residential and retail), and West 8^th Street (residential and retail.) Loading zones are proposed to be located completely within the interior of the structure.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED:

Aesthetics (including Shade/Shadow); Air Quality; Cultural Resources (Historic); Geology and Soils; Hazards and Hazardous Materials; Hydrology and Water Quality; Land Use and Planning; Noise; Population and Housing; Public Services; Traffic/Circulation; and Utilities.

DOCUMENT REVIEW AND COMMENT:

If you wish to review a copy of the Draft Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIR) or the documents referenced in the Draft EIR, you may do so at the City of Los Angeles, Department of City Planning at 200 North Spring Street, Room 750, Los Angeles, 90012. Copies of the Draft EIR are also available at the following library locations:

1)                   Central Library – 630 W. 5^th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071

2)                   Memorial Branch Library – 4625 W. Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90019

3)                   Fairfax Branch Library 161 S. Gardner Street, Los Angeles, CA 90036

The Draft EIR is also available online at the Department of City Planning's website [www.lacity.org/PLN  (click on "Environmental" and then "Draft Environmental Impact Reports")]. The Draft Effis can be purchased on cd-rom for $750 per copy. Contact Srimal Hewawitharana at (213) 978-1202 or Jimmy Liao at (213) 978-1331 to purchase one.

For Draft EIR Volume I Sections: