Archeon Group Designs Mid-Rise Complex for Vermont Avenue

Vermont & James Wood, viewed from the southwest.  Image from Archeon Group.

Over the summer, a proposal appeared for a mixed-use development on a pair of corner lots at the intersection of Vermont Avenue and James M. Wood Boulevard.  I recently happened upon a rendering of the Vermont & James Wood via the Archeon Group, design architect for the two building project.  Although the Archeon Group does not provide specifics on the dimensions of either building, both appear to stand over 10-stories tall, consisting of studio, one and two bedroom apartments.  The Vermont & James Wood's case filing with the Department of City Planning indicates that the project would create a total of 411 residential units and 43,800 (?!) square feet of ground level retail space.  That level of density puts it on par with the Vermont Towers and the K2LA Apartments, both currently under construction just a few blocks north.

By the way, what the hell is up with the balconies on these buildings?  Perhaps it's just due to the preliminary rendering, but their boxy appearances make them look like external air conditioning units.

• Vermont & James Wood (Archeon Group)
• Vermont Blvd Mixed-User to Add More Density to K-Town (Building Los Angeles)

Vermont Blvd. Mixed-User to Add More Density to K-Town

According to plans filed earlier this month with the LA City Planning Department, more apartments are coming to Vermont Avenue at its intersection with James M. Wood (almost spitting distance from the busy Wilshire/Vermont Station).

The location of the mysterious new apartments, outlined in red.

Here is what we know so far:

2855 W JAMES M WOOD BLVD

NEW MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT WITH 187 RESIDENTIAL UNITS AND 18,000 SF. GROUND RETAIL ON THE NORTH SITE, AND A MIXED-USE BUILDING WITH 224 UNITS AND 25,800 SF. GROUND RETAIL ON THE SOUTH SITE.

Here's what the scene looks like today:

The northern lot currently serves as a neighborhood market.  Nice enough, but not a building of architectural significance.

The southern lot is currently "improved," as a surface parking lot.

Obviously it's difficult to say what exactly to expect at this point.  The two parcels were sold in October of last year, so this is still fairly early in the planning process.  On the bright side, whatever it may be, I wouldn't expect much (if any) NIMBY revolt.  411 apartments isn't of big concern in transit rich/already dense Koreatown.  Frankly, the demographics of the neighborhood just don't cater to the NIMBY persuasion (working class, high concentration of immigrants).

This news comes amidst what is already a noticeable uptick in construction for Koreatown.  Walking up Vermont from James M Woods to Wilshire Blvd, new residential building are springing up like weeds.  This includes Century West's K2LA, Southwestern Law Schools painfully white student housing, plus several other unnamed developments.  Last but not least, J.H. Snyder's 464 unit Vermont Towers rise at the intersection with Wilshire:

Nothing quite like a shiny glass high rise.  Or better yet, two of them!