Jamison’s expansion continues with plan for 100-unit resi complex in Sawtelle

Jamison has made a name for itself developing projects in Koreatown, but it has also expanded to other parts of the city.

With its latest project Jamison is planning a 100-unit residential complex in Sawtelle.

The multifamily and office developer filed for the five-story construction this week, records show. It would replace a car wash at 11602 Santa Monica Boulevard, a few blocks away from the sprawling Department of Veterans Affairs hospital campus.

Jamison plans to set aside nine units as affordable, and seeks a density bonus and an 11-foot height increase. The five stories of apartments would top a two-and-a-half story garage space.

Garrett Lee, who leads the firm’s development wing, Jamison Properties, filed the plans. The property is owned by a separate group of people who purchased the site for $11 million last July. That group includes members of the Serber family and an entity connected to the Shanfeld Group, a Westside-based property management company.

Jamison is most active in Koreatown, where its founder David Lee first started buying real estate following the 1992 riots. He amassed a huge portfolio over the years and together with his children has been redeveloping or repurposing many of those properties for residential use. His daughter Jaime Lee, runs the company’s leasing arm, Jamison Services.

Jamison is currently working on several development projects, mostly around Koreatown, Westlake, and Downtown. The company spent more than half a million dollars last year lobbying officials at City Hall, putting it among other large firms including CIM Group and Lightstone.

In April, Jamison took over a proposed hotel project near Wilshire Boulevard that never got off the ground.