The Los Angeles planning department has given approvals to the planned Go For Broke apartment project as a six-story, 248-unit affordable housing development, according to a determination letter filed by the city this month.
Slated to replace a city-owned surface parking lot on a 2.61-acre site at the southeastern corner of Judge John Aiso Street and Temple Street, the project is being spearheaded by Little Tokyo nonprofits Go For Broke National Education Center and Little Tokyo Service Center. It will rise to a maximum height of about 86 feet and border a series of buildings to the south that includes the headquarters for the Go For Broke National Education Center, which has the mission of raising awareness for Japanese American World War II veterans.
Of the project’s 248 apartments, 245 will be reserved for low-income households, plans show.
Approvals given this month include Tier-4 project incentives under the city’s transit-oriented communities incentive program, and they reflect plans for a project that is 20 units larger than was previously pitched.
The planning department’s green light also follows the nonprofits and city agreeing to an expansion of their ground lease agreement for the project site in March.
The latest project plans call for 74 studios, 47 one-bedrooms, 65 two-bedrooms, and 62 three-bedrooms, along with community education and cultural space focused on Japanese American World War II veterans and curated by the Go For Broke National Education Center.
Plans also call for about 30,000 square feet of commercial space and 2,500 square feet of retail, along with almost 35,000 square feet of usable open space consisting of a plaza, pocket park, paseo, artist alley, three second-floor courtyards, a lounge, and other features.
Designs for the project are being led by Carde Ten Architecture + Consulting.
