Development Aims to Cater to Students in Westwood Neighborhood
By Dolores Quintana
Just one block west of the UCLA campus in Westwood, the final stages of construction are underway for an exciting new apartment complex situated at the crossroads of Landfair Avenue and Strathmore Drive.
This development, masterminded by Damian Akhavi and executed under the entity 540 Landfair, LLC, has replaced two older apartment buildings dating back to the 1950s. Following their demolition, the half-acre plot has blossomed into striking five- and six-story structures.
These buildings will collectively offer 21 modern apartments, complete with rooftop decks and an extensive subterranean parking facility comprising 160 parking spaces spread across three to four levels. It’s noteworthy that this project, originally submitted for city entitlements in 2016, contains one less residential unit compared to the buildings it replaced – a situation no longer permissible under current state laws. However, the new development compensates by offering a larger selection of five- and six-bedroom floor plans designed to accommodate the nearby UCLA student population.
Jamie B. Myer Architects, Inc. is the visionary firm behind the project’s contemporary architectural design. Renderings reveal lush landscaping enveloping the building’s periphery, with a generously sized courtyard gracefully dividing the twin structures. This construction marks the beginning of an exciting wave of forthcoming apartment complexes in the vicinity, all geared toward serving the student population. Similar developments are already taking shape along Strathmore Drive and Glenrock Avenue.
In parallel, UCLA itself has intensified its efforts to address the demand for student housing in the neighborhood. This includes a recent proposal to potentially construct up to 545 additional beds at 565 Gayley Avenue, further enhancing the accommodation options for the university’s student community.
