Beverly Hills Builder’s Remedy High-Rises Increase in Size

Two builder’s remedy projects in Beverly Hills that drew criticism from residents are getting even bigger.

The developments at 125-129 South Linden Drive and 8844 Burton Way are adding several stories to their project plans, the Beverly Press reported.

Leo Pustilnikov, the developer who successfully sued the city of Beverly Hills for unlawfully blocking the Linden project from advancing, has updated plans for that development to nearly double the size.

With the new Linden proposal, the tower grows from 19 to 36 stories and from approximately 200 feet to 400 feet. It now includes an additional 185 units with 28 set aside for affordable housing for a total of 350 units, 61 reserved for low-income residents. An 80-room luxury hotel is also slated for the property.

“This project represents a bold vision for the future of Beverly Hills,” Pustilnikov said in a statement of the Linden development. However, Michael Forbes, Beverly HIlls’ director of community development, said the city has not yet received an application for the revised application.

The size of the Linden Drive tower, even at its original height, drew the ire of the Southwest Beverly Hills Homeowners Association. Association president Ken Goldman was disappointed with Pustilnikov’s new plans.

“In my opinion, the greedy developer just got greedier,” Goldman told the Beverly Press. “If he really wants to help the housing situation, then 100 percent of his project should be available for affordable housing.”

Meanwhile, Crescent Heights’ planned builder’s remedy project at 8844 Burton Way, currently an empty lot, increased from 20 to 26 stories, according to revised plans submitted to the city.

The Burton Way tower would rise approximately 309 feet, up from the previous height of 223 feet, and increase from 480,686 square feet to 492,029 square feet. It would also include 318 parking spaces instead of the previously proposed 277, though it will keep the same number of housing units at 200.

The updated project still includes affordable housing units, though the number was slashed from 40 lower-income units to 14 extremely-low-income units and eight moderate-income units. The move was made after changes to California housing laws reduced the number of affordable housing units required to qualify for builder’s remedy status.

Extremely-low-income in Los Angeles County is considered to be a maximum annual wage of $31,850 for one person, while moderate-income is a maximum of $89,550.

“As residents, we are not opposed to thoughtful, balanced development. We care deeply about responsible growth that honors the unique character of Beverly Hills,” local resident Renée Strauss told the Press. “But when city leadership fails to communicate after specifically committing to do better, it erodes trust and creates unnecessary division. We are simply asking that the city uphold its promise, protect our voice and ensure transparency in matters that affect us all.”

Under its Housing Element, the city of Beverly Hills must plan to build 3,104 new housing units by 2029. — Chris Malone Méndez