Construction Started on Affordable Housing Project

HOLLYWOOD—Construction has started on a 40-unit affordable housing project which accommodates both seniors and young families at 1600 N. Western Ave. The project is being developed by AMCAL Multi-Housing, Inc. of Agoura Hills, CA. A four-story contemporary building with Art Deco influences, Argyle Apartments includes an array of amenities to serve its tenant mix including media, computer, and community rooms and an outdoor courtyard highlighted by a 823-square-foot tot lot. Designed by Killefer Flammang Architects (KFA), the four-story building has a mix of floor plans. One wing of mostly one-bedroom units located at the rear will be reserved for seniors while at the front there are mostly three-bedroom units for large families. “This division will permit multiple generations to live together in one building while enabling them to enjoy separate quarters with their peers. Open spaces and community amenities will be shared by all tenants to encourage community cohesiveness,” explained KFA design principal Wade Killefer. From the viewpoint of urban planning, this is a project that continues the trend to infill under-utilized sites in pedestrian and transit-oriented districts, while respecting the existing character of older neighborhoods, added John Arnold, KFA project manager. The L-shaped building–clad in colored tile and plaster–will engage Western Avenue and the city that surrounds it by taking its inspiration from the traditional early 20th century buildings it shares with the boulevard. “The design approach orients the building outwards toward the street and employs an architectural language that continues the existing vocabulary,” noted Arnold.  With four stories along Western Avenue, the building steps down to three stories along Carlton Way to be compatible with the neighborhood’s existing structures. The project will be LEED certified.