A revised apartment development planned for a long-vacant property just south of Ventura Boulevard has received approval from the Los Angeles Department of City Planning.
Known as Libbit 68, the latest proposal calls for a seven-story building with 68 one- and two-bedroom apartments at 4741 Libbit Avenue in Encino. Plans also include parking for up to 163 vehicles.
The project is being developed by Liv Lux Property Group, LLC, with architectural plans by Stockton Architects. The contemporary podium-style building is shown with private balconies, large windows, landscaped areas and a modern exterior facing Libbit Avenue.
Fourteen Affordable Apartments Included
The developer requested density bonus incentives allowing a larger building than would ordinarily be permitted under the property's underlying zoning. In exchange, 14 apartments would be reserved for very low-income households for a period of 55 years.
The affordable component represents slightly more than 20 percent of the building's proposed 68 apartments.
The Site Once Held a 20-Unit Apartment Building
Although the Libbit Avenue property is now vacant, it previously contained a two-story apartment building with 20 residential units.
City permit records show that the permit request for the former apartment building was filed on January 19, 1956. A certificate of occupancy was later issued on January 22, 1957, indicating that the building had been completed and approved for residential use.
The apartment building remained on the property for nearly five decades. A demolition permit was requested on June 14, 2006, clearing the way for future redevelopment. However, the replacement projects proposed in the years that followed were never built, leaving the property vacant for an extended period.
Several Replacement Projects Have Been Proposed
The newly approved development is the latest of several residential projects proposed for the site since the former apartment building was removed.
A previous owner, Precision Development, LLC, received approvals for a five-story building containing approximately 47 apartments. That development was never constructed.
Liv Lux later proposed a six-story building with 57 apartments and 125 parking spaces. The application was subsequently revised to the current seven-story, 68-unit plan using streamlined approval procedures and newer citywide housing incentives.
The planning approval does not necessarily indicate that construction is about to begin, and a construction schedule has not been announced.
Development Site Near Ventura Boulevard
The property is located on the west side of Libbit Avenue, a short distance south of Ventura Boulevard. The surrounding area includes apartment buildings, offices, restaurants, stores and other businesses along Encino's principal commercial corridor.
View the City of Los Angeles planning case
Google Street View of the vacant Libbit Avenue development site.
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