R2H Eyes 230-Unit Affordable Apartment Complex in Northridge

R2H Development wants to bulldoze a century-old house in Northridge to build a 230-unit apartment complex.

The Granada Hills developer led by Aaron Mensch has filed plans to build the five-story building at 17719 West Kinzie Street, Urbanize Los Angeles reported.

R2H would demolish the white farmhouse, built in 1925 at the dawn of the San Fernando Valley’s citrus empire, irrigated by the opening of the Los Angeles Aqueduct from the Owens Valley.

The developer bought the 0.8-acre property a year ago this month for $1.75 million, according to Zillow. It contains the 1,400 square-foot, two-bedroom, one-bathroom home, surrounded by fruit trees.

Plans call for a five-story building containing 230 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments with ground-level parking for 62 cars.

The developer would employ L.A. Mayor Karen Bass’ Executive Directive 1, which streamlines approval for affordable housing projects.

It would also use density bonus incentives to permit a larger building than allowed by zoning rules in exchange for affordable apartments for moderate- and low-income households.

The beige and white building, designed by Culver City-based JZA Architects, has a central courtyard, recreation rooms and a rooftop deck.

The project is one of several ED1 developments planned by R2H and JZA, including a 164-unit affordable complex at 12534 San Fernando Road in Sylmar, The Real Deal reported.

JZA is also working with a different developer on a second affordable housing complex a few blocks to the south at 17829 West Halsted Street, in Northridge, according to Urbanize.

R2H Development was founded by Mensch in 2022 to develop affordable housing, using private equity to lower the cost of development on L.A. infill sites that contain tear-downs or value-add opportunities, according to its website.

— Dana Bartholomew