On a busy corner of Huntington Drive in El Sereno, a long‑planned 111‑unit apartment project has turned into a neighborhood flashpoint. Residents who opposed the development say they watched demolition crews roll in this month and start tearing into a commercial building, only to leave behind a half‑gutted structure and, neighbors say, an encampment that has sparked safety complaints.
Organizers argue the teardown started without the proper permits and that the exposed site sat open to the street. That frustration spilled over into a protest outside Councilmember Ysabel Jurado’s Eagle Rock office, as the fight over one building morphed into a broader battle over how quickly Los Angeles pushes affordable housing projects through the system.
According to city records obtained by neighborhood organizers and reviewed by The LA Local, the city opened a code‑enforcement case against SoLa Impact in April 2025 after a complaint that the structure at 5100 E. Huntington Dr had been left open to the public. Inspectors cited the developer for unpermitted demolition. The report states that as of late April 2026 the case remained under investigation, and that city inspectors issued a third order to comply just days before protesters gathered.
El Sereno Neighbors, the grassroots group that has become the public face of the opposition, has posted photos of the torn‑up storefront and says it has gathered more than 1,100 signatures calling for a public meeting with the council office. Organizers also say emails they obtained show communication from the council office that they interpret as a willingness to move the project forward despite neighborhood pushback.
Who Is SoLa Impact?
SoLa Impact describes itself as a Los Angeles‑based social‑impact real‑estate fund that focuses on preserving and creating affordable housing across Southern California. The company highlights a large pipeline of projects and a mission of pairing impact programs with new housing, positioning itself as a major force in the region’s affordable‑housing world.
Council Office Response
In an emailed statement published by The LA Local, a spokesperson for Council District 14 said, “Councilmember Jurado believes affordable housing and community voice should not be treated as opposing values.” The statement said the office has been working since April 2025 to hold the property owner accountable and stressed that a 100 percent affordable project can qualify for by‑right approval under the city’s incentive program.
How ED1 Clears the Way
Mayor Karen Bass’ Executive Directive 1 was crafted to speed approvals for qualifying 100 percent affordable housing projects and, according to Los Angeles City Planning, can strip out the discretionary public‑hearing process for eligible applications. That ministerial pathway is a key reason this project can advance without the community hearings many neighbors expected, even while the code‑enforcement questions are still being sorted out.
Legal Status and What’s Next
Unpermitted demolition and unsafe site conditions fall under the city’s code‑enforcement and building‑safety systems, which can issue orders to comply or stop‑work notices while investigations play out. Neighbors say they plan to keep pressing Council District 14 for a public meeting and for access to the developer’s impact and parking studies as the code‑enforcement case moves forward.
For now the Huntington Drive property remains partly demolished and fenced, with inspectors and community members both looking for answers. Whether the ongoing investigation and political pressure will change the project’s timeline, and how the city will balance ED1’s speed with neighborhood input, should become clearer in the weeks ahead.
