Onni Group Shifts Arts District Project to Residential Towers

• Onni Group has revised its Arts District project in Downtown Los Angeles into a fully residential development.
• The proposal includes two towers rising 30 and 20 stories with a combined 474 apartments.
• The project will include 77 affordable housing units for very low- and extremely low-income residents.

What the Revised Development Plan Includes

Onni Group has unveiled updated plans for its property at 2143 E. Violet Street near the Los Angeles River in the Arts District. The Vancouver-based developer originally planned a mixed-use complex with office space and housing. However, changing market conditions and declining office demand pushed the company to redesign the project with a stronger focus on residential development. The revised proposal now calls for two residential towers featuring 474 apartments made up of one-, two-, and three-bedroom floor plans. The project would also include just over 2,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space along with subterranean parking.

What the Towers Will Add to the Arts District

The taller western tower would rise 344 feet and include 324 apartments and retail space at street level. The eastern tower would stand 226 feet tall and contain 150 apartments with additional retail frontage. Existing commercial buildings at the northern portion of the site would remain in place. Plans also include pedestrian walkways, gathering areas, and open space woven throughout the development to improve connectivity across the property. Designed by SCB, the project spans roughly 569,000 square feet overall.

What the Affordable Housing Requirement Means

As required under Los Angeles Measure JJJ regulations, the project would reserve 77 apartments for very low- and extremely low-income households. Affordable housing requirements continue playing a major role in large-scale residential projects throughout Los Angeles, especially in neighborhoods like the Arts District, where housing demand and rents have steadily increased. The addition of affordable units could also help support the project’s approval process while adding more income-restricted housing inventory near Downtown Los Angeles.

What This Says About the Downtown L.A. Market

The redesign reflects a larger trend happening across major urban markets where developers are reducing office components in favor of housing. Before the pandemic, office-heavy mixed-use projects were common throughout Downtown Los Angeles. Today, residential development has become a safer long-term bet as remote work and slower office leasing continue affecting commercial demand. Despite a slower construction pace compared to previous years, Onni Group remains active throughout Southern California with projects in Downtown Los Angeles, Glendale, and Long Beach.

What the Project Could Mean for the Arts District

If approved, the Violet Street proposal would add hundreds of new housing units to one of Los Angeles’ fastest-growing residential neighborhoods. The Arts District continues evolving from an industrial area into a dense mixed-use community filled with apartments, restaurants, retail, and creative office space. Projects like this further reinforce the neighborhood’s long-term transformation into a major residential extension of Downtown Los Angeles