Mayor Karen Bass recently visited the World Trade Center office complex in Downtown Los Angeles to highlight the city’s expanded adaptive reuse ordinance. The visit, conducted as part of her reelection campaign, focused on the site at 350 South Figueroa Street, where office spaces are being transformed into residential units.
Jamison Services is leading the effort to convert the interior of the complex into 512 apartments. All of these units are slated to be deed-restricted affordable housing.
The property occupies a full city block, bounded by Figueroa, Flower, Third, and Fourth Streets, and spans nearly 400,000 square feet. This project represents a partial realization of Jamison’s pre-pandemic ambitions, which previously included plans for a 41-story apartment tower on a portion of the site.
Expanding the Path to Housing
The conversion is part of a broader strategy by the Mayor to address stagnant housing production and rising rents. Mayor Bass stated that outdated city regulations have long hindered progress, but shifts toward remote work have created a significant supply of available office space.
Late last year, the Mayor expanded the adaptive reuse ordinance to include buildings that are at least 15 years old. This updated policy, which took effect in February, could potentially unlock the creation of more than 43,000 new residences, according to planning officials.
Despite these efforts, Los Angeles has faced competition from other nearby markets. In recent years, Orange County has outpaced the city in the number of conversion projects completed.
A Pattern of Urban Transformation
Jamison Services, headquartered in Koreatown, has established itself as a primary driver of these projects in the region. Over the last decade, the firm has successfully transformed more than 10 buildings into housing across downtown, and Koreatown.
The firm is also managing a similar project at 1055 West Seventh Street. That development involves the conversion of a 33-story office tower into 686 apartments.
Given the current policy environment, it is likely that more developers may seek to utilize the expanded ordinance. This could lead to a wider proliferation of residential units in previously commercial-only blocks as the city seeks to break the status quo of its housing production.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many units will be created at the World Trade Center site?
The project will convert the interior of the World Trade Center into 512 apartments, all of which will be deed-restricted affordable housing.
What are the new requirements for buildings to be converted under the expanded ordinance?
Under the expanded ordinance that went into effect in February, properties that are at least 15 years old are now eligible to be turned into housing.
What is the total potential impact of the updated adaptive reuse ordinance?
According to planning officials, the expanded ordinance could lead to the creation of more than 43,000 new residences.
Do you believe converting existing office towers is the most effective way to solve the urban housing crisis?