FAQ

We are pleased to provide you with responses to some of the questions we are asked most frequently about the 333 La Cienega project.

PROJECT LOCATION

1. Where exactly is this project located?

333 La Cienega is located at the gateway between Los Angeles and Beverly Hills along the intersection of Burton Way, La Cienega and San Vicente Boulevard.

2. What are your plans for 333 La Cienega?

333 La Cienega is a mixed-use, environmentally sustainable residential and transit oriented building destined to become a new Los Angeles landmark. The project will enhance the entire neighborhood by transforming the outdated Loehmann’s site into a central gathering place for residents, neighbors and visitors. Caruso’s innovative approach brings a distinguished and unique combination of architectural excellence and dedication to serving the local community.

3. What will the completed project look like on La Cienega?

333 La Cienega will reflect a contemporary aesthetic with striking architecture. It will provide a new 7,000-square-foot publicly accessible park-like green with shading and seating, including enhanced sidewalks lined with more than five dozen mature, shading trees. The building will also include a neighborhood-serving market and restaurant with outdoor seating.

HEIGHTS AND UNITS

1. How tall is the new project?

333 La Cienega will be 185′ tall. This is commensurate with surrounding multi-story residential, office, hotel, and medical buildings ranging from 4 to 16 stories.

2. How many residential units are planned? Are they condominiums or apartments? What will be the purchase price or rent?

333 La Cienega will offer up to 145 state-of-the-art apartments for rent that will be competitively priced, alongside an affordable housing component.

3. Does the project include affordable housing?

Nearly 10% of the building’s apartments are designated affordable housing for Very Low Income and Moderate Income families and subject to LA City Housing & Community Investment Department (HCID) oversight.

AMENITIES

1. Will there be any public amenities?

333 La Cienega will provide the following public amenities:

  • New 7,000-square-foot park-like green with shading and seating;
  • Neighborhood-serving street level market and restaurant with outdoor seating;
  • New and revitalized landscaping to replace concrete and dead grass;
  • Landscaped medians and more than five dozen mature, shading trees around the project;
  • New enhanced crosswalks on La Cienega, San Vicente and Burton Way;
  • New bus shelter on the corner of La Cienega and San Vicente;
  • New painted bike lanes along San Vicente and Burton Way, bike waiting area, and safety light;
  • 333’s boardroom made available free-of-charge for community meetings.

2. What are the details of the public park?

333 La Cienega will provide much-needed, new open space and landscaping for public enjoyment. The privately-operated and maintained 7,000-square-foot park-like green will include shading and outdoor seating, and will be completely open to the public and accessible to the entire community.

3. Will there be bike storage/parking?

333 La Cienega will provide nearly 300 short- and long-term bike stalls for residents, customers and guests. Bicyclists will also enjoy the project’s commitment to new painted bike lanes and a bike safety signal at San Vicente and Burton Way.

4. How much retail is planned, and who will be the likely tenants?

Approximately 31,000 square feet of retail is planned on for the ground level of 333 La Cienega, which will include a neighborhood-serving market and restaurant with outdoor seating. The retail will complement the offerings at 8500 Burton Way, which include Trader Joe’s and Emilia.

SUSTAINABILITY


1. Will the construction and operation of this new building be ‘green’?

  • Yes. As one of the world’s most innovative real estate companies, Caruso is committed to being a leader in environmental sustainability in both development and operations. 333 La Cienega meets the U.S. Green Building Council’s criteria for Leadership in Energy & Environment Design (LEED) Silver Certification.

2. What environmentally sustainable features does the project include?

333 La Cienega embodies the best in on-site sustainability and off-site improvements that benefit the surrounding community. The project will achieve:

  • 15% more energy efficient than the 2016 California Energy Code requirement:
  • All ENERGY STAR certified appliances
  • Latest Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) HVAC technology, providing significant energy savings compared to conventional heating and cooling systems
  • Continuous architectural overhangs to reduce solar heat gain
  • Energy efficient lighting fixtures and utilization of daylighting methods
  • 25% less water usage than the average regional household:
  • Low-flow plumbing fixtures
  • Efficient irrigation design with rain sensors and drip design
  • Graywater ready plumbing infrastructure for future irrigation use
  • Efficient filters and maintenance guidelines to minimize water loss

In addition, we’re committed to providing a sustainably responsible development by optionally implementing:

  • LEED Silver Certification
  • 333 La Cienega meets the U.S. Green Building Council’s criteria for Leadership in Energy & Environment Design (LEED) Silver Certification.
  • Carbon Offset Credits
  • Offset credits otherwise known as “carbon credits” or “greenhouse gas reductions” will be purchased to reduce the project’s carbon emissions to zero for the next 30 years.

333 La Cienega includes a number of sustainable features for the public:

  • Provide much-needed, new open space and landscaping for public enjoyment:
  • The addition of a new 7,000 square foot park-like green with shading and seating
  • The green will be the only accessible open space within a half-mile radius
  • Privately-operated and maintained, the space will be open to the public
  • Planting over five dozen mature, shading trees around the project
  • Transit-oriented to make full use of bus and rail options:
  • 333 La Cienega will implement a public transit program option for all employees on-site
  • Provide a brand new bus shelter on the corner of La Cienega and San Vicente
  • Located less than a half-mile from the new Purple Line stop at Wilshire & La Cienega
  • San Vicente side is a potential new light rail route connecting Red and Purple Lines
  • Includes considerable bicycle parking and electric vehicle charging stations:
  • Nearly 300 total bike stalls (short- and long-term) for residents, customers, and guests
  • At least 5% of vehicle parking spaces will be EV, 20% will be ready for future EV conversion
  • Together with off-site improvements, will promote non-vehicle transportation options

Additional off-site improvements extend sustainability neighborhood-wide, including enhanced crosswalks and bike lanes, landscaped medians, and a new bus stop shelter. All of these improvements will reduce vehicle dependency and improve the quality of life for local residents and workers.

  • Ensures a more walkable, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood:
  • New, enhanced crosswalks will make it easier and safer to walk throughout the area
  • Neighborhood-serving market and restaurant reduces need to drive further away
  • Better connects Cedars-Sinai, West Third Street, and Burton Way corridor
  • 333 La Cienega’s current Walk Score of 94/100 (“Walker’s Paradise”) will only increase
  • Makes streets safer and more accessible for bicyclists:
  • New painted bike lanes, bike waiting area, and safety light promote bicycling
  • Eliminates many of dangerous conditions and conflicts between vehicles and bicyclists
  • Fulfills the City of LA’s “Mobility Element” goals for this critical city corridor
  • Landscaped medians provide shading and permeability:
  • Commitment to landscape and maintain blighted medians improves quality of life
  • New and revitalized landscaping to replace concrete and dead grass
  • Provides environmentally-friendly shading and permeability

3. Has the project achieved any sustainability milestones?

333 La Cienega meets the U.S. Green Building Council’s criteria for Leadership in Energy & Environment Design (LEED) Silver Certification.

TRANSPORTATION/PARKING

1. How will traffic in the area be impacted by the project?

333 La Cienega is a Transit Priority Project, which means it is designed to integrate with neighboring bus and rail options. The project will also invest in significant off-site improvements, including enhanced crosswalks and bike lanes, landscaped medians, and a new bus shelter, all of which will reduce vehicle dependency and improve the quality of life for local residents and workers. 333 La Cienega will ensure a more walkable, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood and make streets safer and more accessible for bicyclists.

2. Won’t this make an already crowded street even more congested?

In fact, it’s just the opposite. 333 La Cienega will invest in significant on-site and offsite improvements, including enhanced crosswalks and bike lanes, landscaped medians, and a new bus shelter.

3. Will there be public parking in addition to private parking?

Retail and restaurant parking will be open to the public.

4. What public transportation options is the project located near?

333 La Cienega is located along major Metro and DASH bus routes on San Vicente, La Cienega, and Burton Way. In addition, the new Purple Line Metro stop will open at Wilshire and La Cienega – less than half-a-mile or a 10-minute walk from the building.

PROJECT TEAM

1. Who is building this project? Have they done other local projects?

While we have not yet hired a construction firm, Caruso only uses contractors with a proven track record in Southern California. We have significant experience with construction at this intersection given Caruso’s construction of the existing Loehmann’s building as well as our sister building, 8500 Burton Way, located directly across the street.

2. Who is the architect?

Gensler, one of the world’s most respected architectural firms, is the executive architect for this project.

3. How will the new buildings work with the surrounding area?

333 La Cienega will be architecturally complementary to its sister building directly across the street, 8500 Burton Way. Together, these two buildings will elegantly anchor the gateway between Los Angeles and Beverly Hills. The project is also consistent with the multi-story, multi-family and commercial nature of the surrounding area.

APPROVALS

1. What is the approval process for the building?

333 La Cienega requires the approval of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission, the Planning and Land Use Management Committee (PLUM), and lastly, the Los Angeles City Council. On November 10, 2016, the Planning Commission unanimously approved the project, and on January 18, 2016, Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) also unanimously approved the project.

2. Who is supporting the project?

We have spent the last two years listening to our neighbors, local businesses and other stakeholders. Through working with these organizations, the project has taken shape and improved through their valuable input and suggestions. We’re proud to have earned the endorsement of the Mid City West Community Council, Burton Way Homeowners Association, Westbury Terrace Homeowners Association, West 3rd Street Business Association, and the Miracle Mile Democratic Club, among many others. For a full list of community supporters and testimonials, please visit our website.

3. Do Mr. Caruso’s donations affect or expedite the approval process?

Absolutely not. We have and always will be active participants in the city’s planning process. It’s a critical function and an important venue for all Angelenos to debate projects under consideration in their neighborhoods. We are grateful for the city’s approvals process and the opportunity it provides for the community to share its views. Any suggestion that our financial support of elected officials somehow sways the process is preposterous.

4. What contributions have been made to HOAs and other relevant parties in the neighborhood?

Every project we do begins with our neighbors and the community. It’s our cornerstone to partner together and benefit the greater good. One major responsibility is to minimize the impact we have on our neighbors – before, during and after construction. In the case of 333 La Cienega, our neighbors at Westbury Terrace expressed concerns about construction noise due to their building’s 40-year-old windows. We were happy to help solve the issue, which is why we will provide funding for new windows and soundproofing before construction begins. It’s also why we’re happy to invest in new crosswalks, bike lanes, landscaped medians, and a new bus shelter – not to sway the approval process, but because we take tremendous pride in becoming long-standing good neighbors.

KEEP INFORMED


1. How can the community keep informed of project milestones?

You can sign up to be informed of project news on Caruso’s 333 La Cienega website. We will provide updates on construction progress, milestones, and other important developments. Please feel free to reach out by phone or email at any time should you have questions or concerns.