ED1 Affordable Housing Project Breaks Ground at 1734 South Barrington Avenue in Sawtelle

Construction activity has begun at 1734 South Barrington Avenue in Sawtelle, where a new fully affordable housing development is moving forward under Los Angeles’ Executive Directive 1 program. The project replaces a small residential structure with a larger multifamily building, illustrating how recent policy changes are accelerating housing production on underutilized sites.

The development is planned as a six-story building containing 37 studio and one-bedroom apartments. All but one unit will be reserved for very low-, low-, and moderate-income households, with a single unit designated for an on-site manager. The project is being developed by Passo, a Los Angeles-based firm that has been active in advancing ED1 applications across the Westside.

By utilizing Executive Directive 1, the proposal qualifies for streamlined approvals and density bonus incentives, allowing a greater number of units than typically permitted under base zoning regulations. The project also omits on-site parking, reflecting both its affordability designation and its reliance on transit-oriented planning principles that reduce construction costs and increase residential yield.

Designs by Aero Collective present a contemporary mid-rise structure with a restrained exterior palette. Renderings show a simple massing approach articulated by vertical window groupings and subtle facade variation, with minimal ornamentation. The building form emphasizes efficiency and repetition, consistent with cost-conscious affordable housing construction.

The project highlights the growing role of ED1 in reshaping development patterns in Los Angeles, particularly in neighborhoods like Sawtelle where smaller residential parcels are being redeveloped with higher-density affordable housing. As construction proceeds, the site serves as another example of how policy-driven streamlining is translating into tangible residential projects on the ground.

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