First look: Arts District project with 600 live/work units moves forward

An Arts District project that could bring as many as 600 live/work lofts, plus offices, restaurants, retail, and “cultural” space took a step forward this week with the release of its final environmental impact report. The document represents one of the final administrative hurdles a project faces before beginning construction.

As seen in project renderings, developer Carmel Partners plans to replace the pair of large warehouses at the site now with condos, plus 20,000 square feet of offices, 15,000 square feet of both restaurants and retail, 10,000 square feet of “cultural space,” and 650 parking spaces in three underground levels.

Dubbed 520 Mateo and designed by Works Progress Architecture, the project would rise along Fourth Place between Santa Fe and Mateo, just around the corner from Villains Tavern. As proposed, it would reach a height of 13 stories.

520 Mateo will be about a block away from the office space and retail complex called At Mateo. Across Santa Fe Avenue, a planned four-story business center is in the works.

According to the project’s draft environmental impact report, Carmel is expecting to start construction in 2020, with construction taking about 30 months to complete.

• Arts District Getting Huge 600-Condo Project [Curbed LA]