Mitsui Fudosan’s 438-unit tower project advances past appeals

Mitsui Fudosan America has cleared a major hurdle in its path to building a 438-unit residential tower tower in Downtown Los Angeles.

Despite appeals, the firm received the green light from the city planning and land use committee for the project the 8th & Fig project.

The development, which still requires City Council approval, would rise to 41 stories at 732 S. Figueroa Street. The project building would be a total of 425,000 square feet, including 7,500 square feet of commercial space.

Of the 438 residential units, only 22 units — about 5 percent — will be set aside for affordable housing.

The proposal had faced appeals from carpenter unions, which alleged the environmental report Fudosan submitted was inadequate.

Earlier this year, the city’s planning commission denied appeals against 8th & Fig from the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters and from Coalition for Responsible Equitable Economic Development, which was demanding what it called fair wages.

Labor unions have become more active in challenging developments in Los Angeles recently. At the start of the year, Icon Co. accused unions of racketeering and extortion for allegedly pressuring companies to only hire union labor.

The 8th & Fig tower was scaled back by about 12 percent in October. Mitsui Fudosan America — whose parent company is Japanese developer Mitsui Fudosan — has owned the site for more than 30 years. It must pay a Public Benefit Payment of $4.3 million for the project, which was expected to be complete in 2022.