DEVELOPMENT WATCH · VAN NUYS
One of the largest new apartment developments along Van Nuys Boulevard is approaching the finish line, with much of the exterior of the six-story project at 7050 Van Nuys Boulevard now exposed. The development, now branded Sona, will bring 332 apartments and ground-floor commercial space to the corner of Van Nuys Boulevard and Vose Street.
Exterior Comes Into View
After years of planning and construction, Sona is moving toward completion along one of Van Nuys' busiest commercial corridors.
Recent photographs show much of the project's finished exterior now visible, offering the clearest look yet at the scale and appearance of the development.
332 Apartments Above Ground-Floor Retail
The six-story development contains 332 apartments above approximately 4,105 square feet of ground-floor commercial space, along with parking for 180 vehicles.
Designed by AC Martin, the contemporary podium-style complex fronts both Van Nuys Boulevard and Vose Street.
Project plans include three courtyards and two rooftop decks. Milender White also lists resident amenities including a dog run and dog spa.
Affordable and Workforce Housing
The development received approvals through Los Angeles' Transit Oriented Communities Affordable Housing Incentive Program, which permits qualifying projects to receive density and development incentives in exchange for providing affordable housing.
Project documents identify 37 of the 332 apartments as reserved for extremely low-income households.
The remaining apartments are intended for households earning up to approximately 90 percent of area median income, placing much of the development in the workforce or middle-income housing category.
The project's 180 parking spaces amount to substantially fewer than one parking space per apartment, reflecting its location along the Van Nuys Boulevard transit corridor.
Before Sona: A Low-Rise Commercial Block
The redevelopment represents a dramatic change for this stretch of Van Nuys Boulevard.
Before construction, the property was occupied by a collection of one-story commercial buildings and associated parking. Businesses visible in earlier street-level imagery included a soccer shop, church, automotive alarm and stereo business and banquet hall.
The entitlement filing describes approximately 19,884 square feet of existing commercial structures, associated parking and telecommunications facilities slated for demolition.
Those low-rise buildings have now been replaced by a six-story development containing hundreds of apartments and new street-facing commercial space.
The Site After Demolition
Following demolition of the former commercial buildings, the property remained cleared while preparations moved forward for construction of the apartment complex.
From VOSE to Ardent to Sona
Anyone who has followed the development over the past several years may recognize it under several different names.
Early entitlement documents identify the project as Van Nuys Vose. Later materials used VOSE and Ardent on Van Nuys.
General contractor Milender White now identifies the property as Sona.
Project Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2021 |
Entitlement Process Plans outlined a six-story mixed-use development containing 332 apartments, approximately 4,105 square feet of commercial space and affordable housing incentives. |
| 2023 |
Groundbreaking The project formally broke ground, although substantial vertical construction followed later. |
| 2024 |
Construction Accelerates Financing and construction activity moved forward as work intensified across the property. |
| 2025 |
Building Goes Vertical The podium and residential levels rose above Van Nuys Boulevard as the project reached its full six-story height. |
| August 2026 |
Exterior Revealed Construction coverings were removed from much of the building, revealing the finished facade while interior and site work continued. |
| Late 2026 |
Expected Completion Milender White currently lists completion of Sona for late 2026. |
Part of a Larger Valley Housing Push
Sona is part of a broader group of San Fernando Valley developments undertaken by Alliant that combine workforce housing with apartments restricted to extremely low-income households.
The project also illustrates the continuing transformation of major Valley commercial corridors, where older low-density properties are increasingly being redeveloped with larger mixed-use and multifamily buildings.
Van Nuys Boulevard has been one of the most visible examples of that shift, with several substantial apartment projects proposed, under construction or recently completed along the corridor.
Street View
Sona is located at 7050 Van Nuys Boulevard, on the east side of Van Nuys Boulevard at Vose Street, just north of Sherman Way.
Interactive Google Street View — drag the image to look around Van Nuys Boulevard and Vose Street.
Sources & Further Reading
- Milender White — Sona Project
- Alliant Communities — VOSE Financing Announcement
- Van Nuys Neighborhood Council — Project Background and Entitlement Information
- Van Nuys Neighborhood Council — Plans and Entitlement Submittal
- Hunter Kerhart Architectural Photography
Project information is based on publicly available planning documents, developer and contractor materials and historical imagery. Development details, affordability requirements and completion schedules may change.
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