Mixed-use development unwrapped at 601 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica

This post was written by Steven Sharp and published on Jan 7, 2025 on la.urbanize.city

40 apartments over ground-floor retail

In Santa Monica, the wrapping is off at the intersection of 6th Street and Wilshire Boulevard for the latest development from Cypress Equity Investments.

Located on the former site of a commercial building at 601 Wilshire Boulevard, the new four-story edifice will feature 40 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments above approximately 6,200 square feet of ground-floor commercial space. Plans also call for 92 parking spaces in a three-level subterranean garage.

KFA Architecture provided the entitlement design for the low-rise building, which will incorporate amenities such as a rooftop deck, co-working space, a pet spa, and a central courtyard. Ottinger Architects is now serving as the project's architect of record, according to general contractor Integrare Group.

"The design is organized around two strong horizontal bands that move boldly across the façade," reads a narrative from the KFA website. "The lower band floats above the ground floor, creating a protective overhand over the retail areas, and the upper band caps the residential units below. The bands are angled to open up to the glassy corner at 6th Street, which is carved back to create a space for outdoor café seating."

Cypress Equity Investments, based out of Los Angeles, is also building a similar mixed-use project at 3223 Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica. The company is responsible for more than a half-dozen upcoming apartment buildings in Santa Monica.