A single-family house in Los Feliz is on track to be demolished so a six-story, fully income-restricted apartment building can rise in its place, according to city paperwork. The plan calls for 40 studio and one-bedroom units reserved for low- and moderate-income renters.
Proposal and filing
In its biweekly “Cases Filed” list, the Los Angeles Department of City Planning identifies 1756 N Serrano Ave as an Affordable Housing Incentive Program project for a 100 percent affordable, six-story, 40-unit building, under case number EAR-2026-2167, according to the Los Angeles Department of City Planning. The documents indicate the project is seeking density-bonus and other AHIP incentives to fit the maximum number of apartments on the lot.
Who’s behind the plan
Public records list Emilson founder George Khodaverdian as both architect and representative for the owner, and name Eugene Vdovychenko as the applicant, as reported by The Real Deal. Filings describe the project as a compact, podium-style building with smaller units aimed at renters who are being priced out of single-family home districts.
Permits and timeline
Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety records show a plan check filed on April 25, 2024 (plan check and job number B24LA07522) for a new six-story structure. The LADBS entry lists a mix of units that includes dozens of income-restricted apartments and notes the plan check status as “Verifications in Progress.” The permit system shows that several rounds of plan review and sign-offs are still required before any construction permit can be issued.
Approval process under ED1
Because every unit in the building is proposed as income-restricted, the development could qualify for the city’s Executive Directive 1 streamlining track, which prioritizes and speeds up review of eligible affordable housing projects, according to City Planning’s ED1 implementation guidelines. When ED1 was rolled out, the mayor’s office said the order was meant to “dramatically accelerate and lower the cost of building affordable housing and temporary housing,” language published by the Mayor’s Office at the time.
Transit incentives and design
The property is located near the Hollywood/Western subway station, which opens the door to transit-oriented development incentives that can permit taller buildings with less on-site parking, according to Urbanize LA. Urban planners say the idea behind those bonuses is to cluster affordable units where residents can realistically rely on trains and buses instead of cars.
Where this fits in the bigger picture
Los Angeles has been a major producer of fully income-restricted apartments in recent years. An analysis by RentCafe found that the metro area added more than 9,400 fully affordable units between 2020 and 2024, accounting for roughly 20 percent of new multifamily construction in that window. Projects like the Serrano proposal line up with that pattern, as developers and city agencies lean on incentive programs and streamlined approvals to tuck smaller affordable buildings into established neighborhoods.
What neighbors and preservation groups are watching
ED1’s fast-track approach has drawn both praise and concern. Preservation and tenant organizations pressed for additional limits and protections that were later built into updated ED1 guidance, changes highlighted by the Los Angeles Conservancy. Those groups are expected to keep an eye on the 1756 N Serrano case for details on design and tenant protections. For now, the proposal remains in the planning queue under case EAR-2026-2167, while plan checks, clearances, and affordability covenant steps play out.
