City Council approves massive South LA development

Rendering of The Reef (credit: The Reef)
Rendering of The Reef (credit: The Reef)

City Council unanimously approved the ginormous South L.A. housing project dubbed “the Reef” on Tuesday, despite anti-gentrification protests.

The development, to be built by physicians Avedis and Ara Tavitian, will have 1,444 condos and apartments; a 208-room hotel; more than 67,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space; a grocery store and several outdoor plazas.

While proponents say the project will bring job opportunities and affordable housing to the economically desolate area, local critics fear gentrification and lament the fact that most of the units will be market-rate, Curbed reported.

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The project may be a “livability wet dream,” Streetsblog L.A. wrote, but it only “caters to a well-heeled clientele.”

In addition to the low-income units, the Tavitians are pledging $15 million for the city to build off-site affordable housing. [Curbed]Cathaleen Chen