Balazs Szekely 
Scientists are working tirelessly on new technologies that help reduce our carbon footprint. Our buildings—especially the larger ones—have a lot of room for improvement, and where else would it be more pressing to lighten the load on Mother Earth than in a crowded city like L.A.? Developers realized this a long time ago, but the efforts toward building green only became apparent with the headway of the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification program in recent years. By now we got to the point where 5 out of last year’s 10 largest rental developments in L.A, are LEED certified to the Silver, Gold and Platinum levels.
Yardi Matrix, a sister division of PropertyShark, tells us that developers completed 23 new apartment projects of 50+ units, adding 3,782 new apartments in Los Angeles. This is a 20% drop from the 2014 index, when 28 such developments were completed in the city, totaling 4,727 units.
Which were the most daring Los Angeles rental projects delivered last year and how many of them were green enough to earn a certification? Find out as we countdown L.A.’s 5 largest apartment developments from 2015:
#5. The Emerson: 271 rental units
Completed: 5/31/2015
Address: 225 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Rental types: 24 studios, 49 1-bedroom/alcove apartments, 127 1-bedroom apartments, 67 2-bedroom apartments, 4 penthouses
Property size: 243,325 sq.ft., 18-story building (over 5,020 square feet of retail)
Short description: Green Building – LEED – Certified Gold. Architecture by acclaimed Arquitectonica. 24-hr. attended lobby with concierge. Outdoor pool and spa. Penthouse terrace with views. Library and technology lounge. Fitness center with yoga studio and steam room. Media lounge. Smoke-free apartments. Amazing views of DTLA. A gourmet kitchen in every apartment. Partially affordable (56 units are affordable). Covered parking is available for an additional $200/month. 1400 parking spaces.
Photo credits: The Emerson Facebook Page
#4. AVA Little Tokyo: 280 rental units
Completed: 5/15/2015
Address: 236 South Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles, 90012
Rental types: 6 1-bedroom/alcove apartments, 82 1-bedroom apartments, 136 2-bedroom apartments, 7 2-bedroom townhouses/lofts, 39 3-bedroom apartments, 1 4-bedroom apartment
Property size: 285,326 sq.ft., 5- and 6-story building (first floor includes 18,918 square feet of retail)
Short description: Green Building – LEED – Certified Silver. White quartz countertops. Fully-equipped kitchens with Energy Star appliances. Select units feature charging stations, chalkboard walls, downtown views, flexible sliding doors and walls, gear wall. 2-level fitness center. Pool and spa. 3 outdoor courtyards with BBQ and fire pits. 6th-floor deck with skyline views and social bar. Smoke-free community. 420 parking spaces, additional garage parking available for $150/month. Tandem parking available for $100/month.
Photo credits: Avalon Communities – AVA Little Tokyo Official Website
#3. Hanover South Park: 284 rental units
Completed: 5/29/2015
Address: 939 South Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015
Rental types: 12 studios, 3 live-work apartments, 39 1-bedroom/alcove apartments, 148 1-bedroom apartments, 82 2-bedroom apartments
Property size: 238,949 sq.ft., 6-story building (over 12,400 square feet of retail)
Short description: State-of-the-art fitness center. Roof terrace with amazing views. Swimming pool and lounge area. Business center. Clubhouse. Pet-friendly. Theater. Courtyards with BBQ areas. High ceilings, expansive windows. Open-concept kitchens. Luxury bathrooms. Plush carpeting in bedrooms. 478 parking spaces, covered parking available for an additional $150 – 250/month
Photo credits: Hanover South Park Facebook Page
#2. One Santa Fe: 438 rental units
Completed: 2/27/2015
Address: 300 South Santa Fe Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Rental types: 47 studios, 256 1-bedroom apartments, 107 2-bedroom apartments, 26 2-bedroom townhouses
Property size: 333,462 sq.ft., 5-story building (over 78,620 square feet of retail)
Short description: Designed by world-renowned architect Michael Maltzan. Zero edge salt water pool surrounded by cabanas, BBQ grill,and outdoor dining. Fitness center. Outdoor theater. Resident clubhouse. Gourmet kitchens. Panoramic views. 802 parking spaces. Additional covered parking available for $125 per month. Partially affordable (89 units are affordable).
Photo credits: One Santa Fe Official Website
#1. Eastown: 535 rental units – Check availability
Completed: 2/27/2015
Address: 6201 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Rental types: 84 studios, 12 1-bedroom/alcove apartments, 317 1-bedroom apartments, 122 2-bedroom apartments
Property size: 456,652 sq.ft., four buildings of 4, 5, and 6 stories (first floor includes 75,000 sq.ft. of retail)
Short description: Green building – LEED – certified gold. 1,339 parking spaces. Spectacular city and hillside views. High 9′ ceilings. Energy efficient in-home washers and dryers. Quartz countertops. Central air conditioning and heating with programmable thermostats. Oversized double pane windows. Tennis court. Rooftop swimming pool and terrace. Partially affordable (52 units are affordable).
Photo credits: Eastown Official Website
For more of 2015’s largest apartment projects in Los Angeles, see the Top 10 list on the RENTCafé Blog.
