Construction Begins on 86-Unit Affordable Housing Development in Studio City

Construction is beginning on a new fully affordable housing development at 11031–11035 W. Aqua Vista Street in Studio City, approximately one block north of the Los Angeles River and east of Vineland Avenue.

Two single-family homes have been demolished to make way for a five-story, 86-unit apartment building with no on-site automobile parking. The former home at 11035 Aqua Vista Street was built in 1941.

Project Details

Developer: Aqua Vista Builders, LLC
Applicant: Ryan Sassounian
Architect: Kevin Tsai Architecture
Planning case: ADM-2024-195-DB-VHCA-ED1
Building permit: 23010-10000-04857
Supplemental application: 23010-20001-04857
Current unit count: 86 affordable apartments
Original proposal: 89 apartments
Building height: Five stories
Parking: None
Lot size: Approximately 13,236 square feet
Zoning: R3-1-RIO

From Two Homes to 86 Apartments

The project site combines two adjoining parcels totaling approximately 0.30 acres. The properties were previously marketed together as an affordable housing development opportunity and were reported sold for $2.95 million.

The original 2024 planning application proposed an 89-unit, 41,937-square-foot building reaching approximately 58 feet in height. That version included studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments.

By the building-permit stage, the project had been revised to 86 units. Publicly available records reviewed for this post do not explain the three-unit reduction.

Permit Issued for Construction

The primary City of Los Angeles building permit is 23010-10000-04857. It was issued in May 2026 with a declared construction valuation of approximately $6.7 million.

The permit records identify one very-low-income unit, 68 low-income units, 16 moderate-income units and one additional apartment, which may be intended for an on-site manager.

Approved Through Executive Directive 1

The development was processed through Los Angeles’ Executive Directive 1, commonly known as ED1. The program was created to speed the review of qualifying affordable and supportive housing projects.

In exchange for reserving the apartments for income-qualified households, the project received density-bonus incentives allowing a larger building than would otherwise be permitted under the property’s base zoning. The development will also provide no on-site parking.

Contemporary Design Near the Los Angeles River

Kevin Tsai Architecture designed the contemporary five-story building. Renderings show contrasting light and dark exterior sections, recessed windows and balconies, and landscaping along the Aqua Vista Street frontage.

The project is one of several recent affordable housing proposals in the portion of Studio City north of the Los Angeles River, where smaller residential properties are increasingly being replaced by larger apartment developments.

With the former homes removed and permits issued, construction activity should become increasingly visible along Aqua Vista Street.

What do you think about replacing two single-family homes with 86 affordable apartments in Studio City?

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