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LA City Council upholds Studio City mixed-use project after neighborhood appeals

LA City Council upholds Studio City mixed-use project after neighborhood appeals

Built World Los Angeles, CA local

814-unit Riverwalk at 12555 Ventura Blvd. advances with density bonus waivers and 46 affordable apartments

Yesterday: City Council upholds approval, rejects neighborhood appeals

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

The Los Angeles City Council on October 23 rejected neighborhood appeals and kept alive an 814-unit apartment complex on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City. Riverwalk at Studio City, a joint venture of Genton Property Group, RC Development, and Torino Companies, would replace commercial buildings with two-to-seven-story structures, 76,000 square feet of shops and restaurants, and parking for 1,806 cars on four subterranean levels.

The project needs waivers that let it exceed the Ventura Boulevard Specific Plan's height, lot-coverage, and floor-area limits. In exchange, 46 apartments are set aside as very-low-income housing for 99 years. Opponents argued the waivers broke zoning rules, posed safety risks, and misused a state CEQA exemption; the council sided with planning staff.

Why it matters

This approval shows California's density bonus law can override local zoning objections, reshaping what gets built along LA's commercial corridors.

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Key Indicators

814
Apartment units planned
223 studios, 373 one-bedroom, and 218 two-bedroom units across three seven-story buildings.
46
Affordable very-low-income units
About 5.6% of total units, restricted for 99 years under the density bonus agreement.
1,806
Parking spaces planned
1,040 for residents and 766 for commercial uses, exceeding code minimums.
$675,000
Community benefits package
Funding for Los Angeles River access and tree planting, per Councilmember Nithya Raman's letter.

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People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

June 2026 October 2026

2 events Latest: Yesterday
  1. City Planning Commission approves Riverwalk with density bonus

    Approval

    Commission grants density bonus incentives and waivers, denies two appeals challenging the project.

Scenarios

1

Riverwalk breaks ground and delivers 814 apartments

Possible Resolves by End of 2028

Discussed by: Project team and Urbanize LA's reporting on the Ventura Boulevard corridor

With appeals exhausted at the council level, the developers can pursue building permits from the Department of Building and Safety. If financing holds, construction could begin within two years, delivering the units by the early 2030s alongside the nearby Sportsmen's Lodge redevelopment.

2

Opponents file suit to overturn the approval

Possible Resolves by Apr 30, 2027

Discussed by: Neighborhood appellants who cited zoning violations and public safety risks

The groups that appealed could file a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court challenging the density bonus awards or the CEQA exemption under state law AB 130. A court could halt construction pending review, though the council's decision is typically afforded broad deference on land-use matters.

3

Project stalls or is downscaled after further review

Uncertain Resolves by End of 2029

Discussed by: Planning staff noted public concern over scale, traffic, and height during the June approval

Large apartment projects face high construction costs and borrowing rates. If financing isn't secured, the developers could shelve the project, redesign it at a smaller scale, or extend the entitlement timeline as they evaluate market conditions.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1979

California density bonus law (1979)

California enacted one of the nation's first density bonus laws, letting developers build more units than zoning allows if they set aside a portion below market rate. The statute created the mechanism now used across the state.

Then

Cities were required to grant density bonuses, giving developers a predictable path to extra units.

Now

The law became the template for the incentives used at Riverwalk and thousands of other California projects.

Why this matters now

Riverwalk's 814 units and 3.2:1 floor area ratio rely directly on this bonus mechanism to exceed the Ventura Boulevard Specific Plan limits.

2023

AB 130 housing CEQA exemption (2023)

California widened CEQA exemptions for housing with affordability requirements, letting qualifying projects skip full environmental review. The Planning Commission granted Riverwalk this exemption.

Then

Qualifying projects like Riverwalk avoided the most common lawsuit gateway for opponents.

Now

Streamlined review shortens timelines for large housing developments across the state.

Why this matters now

Opponents argued Riverwalk was ineligible for the AB 130 exemption because of the project's waivers; the City Council rejected that claim.

Sources

(4)