Temple Street Development Gets Support from Neighborhood Council

The Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council on Tuesday voted to support a new mixed-use development on Temple Street in Echo Park.

The new 69-unit complex will take over and continue construction of a previously failed 2005 development that left a large open pit in the ground near 330 Union Street/1700 Temple Street.

According to Dana Sayles, who represented the developer at Tuesday's meeting, the new four-story complex will be built under the previous project's parameters but with a new design.

Among the new changes, Sayles said the building will include a large rooftop terrace, resident garden, community room and 500 square feet of retail space at the front of the building with an attached 800 square fee of patio space.

While the majority of the neighborhood council voiced support for the project, some attendees at the meeting voiced opposition and criticized the building's modern design in the historic Filipinotown neighborhood.

 “This does not look like anything Fillipino,” said one local resident. "I just want to see something that does not look so modern." 

Others speaking in opposition to the complex also expressed concern about street parking issues in an already cramped neighborhood and the lack of affordable housing.

According to developers, the building will have 104 dedicated parking spaces – six more than the 98 spaces required under the building permit – and 80 spaces for bicycles.

Rent will range from $800 per month for a studio apartment to $1800 per month for a two-bedroom apartment.

Despite some opposition though, many community members said they would welcome the project to the neighborhood and said a modern design should not be feared.

"I like the idea of this modern approach,” said Chris Rodriguez, who lives near the proposed development. “It is not going to be completely out of place,” he said, citing other modern buildings in the area. "This is going to bring in some much needed new blood who can patronize already existing businesses in the area."

According to Sayles, if all goes well with the City of Los Angeles, developers expect to begin construction on the building sometime next summer.

The next public hearing on the project will be held with the Los Angeles Department of City Planning on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 10 a.m.