[Renderings] Champion Real Estate Company Plans 136-Unit Mixed-Use Apartment Project In Echo Park

An affiliate of Champion Real Estate Company has submitted plans to develop a 136-unit mixed-use apartment project in Echo Park at the northwestern corner of West Sunset Boulevard and Portia Street, a new planning case filed by the city shows.

The project would rise at 1483 – 1497 and 1501 – 1503 W. Sunset Blvd. and 1314 N. McDuff St., replacing vacant commercial buildings at 1487 and 1489 West Sunset. The 41,100-square-foot project site’s other two buildings, at 1487 West Sunset, which holds about 2,500 square feet of vacant commercial space, and 1501 West Sunset, a mixed-use building with about 1,800 square feet of vacant restaurant space and five apartments, would be retained, plans show.

The project applicant is requesting Tier-3 project incentives under the city’s Transit-Oriented Communities Incentives Program, including a 70-percent density bonus to allow for 136 units and a 22-foot height increase to allow for a 67-foot-tall building. It would set aside 15 units for extremely low-income households.

The project would feature five residential levels totaling 55 studios, 49 one-bedrooms, and 32 two-bedrooms over one partially below-grade commercial and parking level and two fully below-grade parking levels. It would provide 8,000 square feet of restaurant space, 116 automobile parking spaces, and 110 bicycle spaces.

The project’s restaurant space would face West Sunset Boulevard and include almost 1,000 square feet of outdoor seating areas.

Champion Real Estate is joined in the project by design architect Togawa Smith Martin and landscape architect L.A. Group Design Works.

Through an affiliate, the developer acquired nine parcels that include the project site for about $9.5 million in 2017, according to Los Angeles County property records.

Designs for 1489 West Sunset call for residential amenities including a courtyard and adjacent indoor recreation room, a centrally located pool, and a landscaped roof terrace.