San Pedro—a pocket near the ports that is typically known for industrial activity—is seeing a residential development boom. There are a handful of new projects under construction and approved to break ground. Among them is 550 Palos Verdes, a seven-story mixed-use complex that will bridge the gap between the waterfront and the shopping district. MVE + Partners is designing the new development, and the firm's director of design Sherwin Pineda sat down with us to discuss the concept, design and the changing apartment landscape in San Pedro.

GlobeSt.com: What is your vision for the 550 Palos Verdes project?

Sherwin Pineda: 550 Palos Verdes is a key development that provides an essential link between the bustling waterfront district that is currently undergoing a massive redevelopment to bring new life and new business to the area, and the downtown shopping district of San Pedro. The community is positioned on a unique site that slopes towards the water for maximized views, and wraps around a few streets, which vary in activity levels. The project's mixed-use design was influenced by surrounding elements, taking into account traffic patterns and community activity in order to provide residents with the best quality of life. As such, we placed the retail directly across from Crown Plaza Hotel, fronting the bustling 6th street edge to further activate the pedestrian experience.