Developer proposes five-story apartment building in Beverly Hills

The owner behind 232 Doheny LLC is looking to construct a five-story, nine-unit multifamily building in Beverly Hills, according to an application filed with the city and reviewed by TRD.

The developer is also requesting a density bonus as part of its proposal for the site at 232 South Doheny Drive in Beverly Hills. Architect Jamsheed Sobhan and landscape architecture firm Stout Design Build are attached to the project.

Fred Ghalchi, the owner of Beverly Hills-based M&G Civil Engineering & Land Surveying, is listed as one of the owners of the site on property records. Fred Ghalchi, David Ghalchi, Minoo Forouzan, Alon Ofir and Natasha Ofir purchased the site for $2.2 million in March 2022, property records show.

According to the project filing, 15 percent of the proposed building will be allocated to very low-income housing, which will constitute a one-bedroom apartment.

This project and other recent proposed development would mark a shift in Beverly Hills’ historic reluctance to permit multifamily projects.

“Beverly Hills has blocked homes for everyone except high-income people for decades,” said Leora Tanjuatco Ross, California director at YIMBY Action. “Because of new teeth in Housing Element law as well as consequences like the builder’s remedy, this housing element cycle is the first time they’re being held accountable for allowing homes for people other than the most wealthy.”

With nine units, the 232 Doheny proposal is relatively modest compared to other builder’s remedy projects. For example, developer Leo Pustilnikov has proposed a 12-story building with 65 apartments at 246 Maple Drive in Beverly Hills. He also has filed plans for a 19-story, 165-unit building with a 73-room hotel at 125-129 South Linden Drive in the affluent city.