Construction Begins on Wilshire “Delancey” Lot

Excavation began last week on Wilshire and Rimpau at the so-called  “Delancey” lot where the Delancey Street Foundation for many years sold Christmas trees during the holidays. The rest of the year the site stood vacant and barren, although at times a pumpkin patch was also a temporary resident. Earth was being moved and the beginning stages of construction started for a three level, 12 unit residence called “Wilshire Condominiums.”

Located at 4661 W. Wilshire Blvd, the site sits in the Park Mile Specific Plan and cleared hurdles before the Park Mile’s Design Review Board  back in 2008. City Planning approved final construction plans in July 2013. The Archeon Group, known for projects in Koreatown including the giant Solair project above the Western/Wilshire Purple Line Metro stop, is behind the project, though they are not providing any information online about it and have not responded to our inquiries for updated renderings of the project.

According to the approved plans, the almost 27,700 square foot building will be limited to 3 floors and a maximum height of 45 feet including rooftop projections. A 15 foot setback will be maintained on Wilshire, Rimpau and the north side where its neighbor on Rimpau is a single family home. Nine trees will be planted along the Wilshire parkway, with 3 new trees expected along Rimpau. Parking for 30 cars will be in a subterranean garage, accessed from Rimpau.An open green space will be maintained right on the corner and to the south of the parking entrance, with landscaping hiding the electrical box and driveway.

The building is designed with a hipped Spanish tile roof, white plaster, cast stone in travertine color, copper gutters and downspouts,  and decorative iron balconies. While the 2008 renderings shown here look to have the building clad in brick on the lower levels and include two towers, the approved plan, pictured below, seem to have lost the towers and be clad all in plaster.  According to Planning’s determination, the building should fit into the surrounding neighborhood, in size and architectural style:

The Wilshire Condominiums seem to be another typical mash-up of architectural styles and design so common to newer multi-family housing in LA.  let’s hope the developer uses decent materials and some elegant landscaping to do justice to the Wilshire corridor.