Hillcrest Company Progresses 122-Unit Mixed-Use Development In Los Angeles Art District

• A long-planned mixed-use development at 1800 E. 7th St. in Los Angeles’ Arts District may be moving forward after years of limited activity.
• The approved project includes 122 live/work apartments, ground-floor commercial space and parking for up to 132 vehicles.
• Fourteen apartments will be reserved for very-low-income households through the project’s density bonus incentives.
• Building permits were issued in 2024, and the recent arrival of heavy equipment and inspection activity suggests work has begun at the site.

What Is Planned at 1800 E. 7th St.

Plans call for a mixed-use development with 122 live/work apartments and commercial space on the ground floor. The project site is located near the intersection of 7th and Alameda streets in the southern portion of Los Angeles’ Arts District. The development will also include parking for up to 132 vehicles. An entity affiliated with The Hillcrest Company initially submitted the project application to the Los Angeles Department of City Planning in 2016, and city officials approved the plans in 2018.

What the Affordable Housing Plans Include

The project received density bonus incentives that provide relief from certain zoning restrictions in exchange for affordable housing. Of the 122 planned apartments, 14 will be reserved for very-low-income households. The remaining residences are planned as live/work units, a housing format that supports the Arts District’s mix of residential, creative and commercial uses.

What Recent Activity Could Mean for Construction

Although building permits were issued in 2024, the property remained largely inactive in the months that followed. Heavy equipment has recently appeared at the site, and inspection activity has also been reported. While a formal construction timeline has not been announced, the activity indicates that some form of work may now be underway.

What the Building Is Expected to Look Like

HansonLA designed the mixed-use project. Renderings show a brick exterior that reflects the industrial character commonly associated with the Arts District. Ground-floor commercial uses are planned beneath the residential floors, helping create a more active street presence near 7th and Alameda streets.

What Is Changing Around the Project Site

The southern Arts District has attracted several residential, office and entertainment-related developments in recent years. Nearby projects include the AVA Arts District and AMP Lofts apartment communities to the north, along with Warner Music Group’s offices to the east. Additional housing is planned at the Row DTLA campus, while Prologis has proposed a production studio on an adjacent property along 7th Street. If construction moves forward, the 1800 E. 7th St. project would add new market-rate and affordable housing while expanding the neighborhood’s supply of ground-floor commercial space.