Big Arts District live/work development could start construction next year

AvalonBay Communities is taking a big step forward on its plans to build a 475-unit mixed-use development with a grocery store and commercial and space.

Today, the city planning department published the Arts District project’s final environmental report, a significant hurdle on the path to getting the project built.

Located at 668 South Alameda and designed by R&A Architecture, the development would rise up to seven stories and hold 475 live/work units, including 24 for very low income tenants. The project would include art production and gallery space and restaurants.

Previously described as “a creative base camp” for a “wide spectrum of creators and artists,” the development would take the form of a collection of buildings spread across a nearly 4-acre site near Industrial and Alameda streets.

The property is occupied by four cold-storage buildings, which would be razed to make room for the new project.

AvalonBay expects its plans will be approved by the city by the end of the year, with construction starting by the end of 2019. Early reports on the project anticipated construction to take about four years.

668 Alameda would be a few blocks from another major Arts District project, 6AM, which proposed a huge multi-use development with two 58-story towers for Sixth and Alameda streets.