Mack Real Estate Development’s 536-Unit Twin High-Rise Project Receives Final City Approval in Downtown Los Angeles

The Los Angeles City Council has now given final approval to the 51-story residential tower, completing the entitlement process that began with Planning Commission approval in February.

Mack Real Estate Development has achieved full municipal approval for its ambitious plan to transform the intersection of 11th and Olive Streets in Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA). Following the City Planning Commission’s approval in February, the Los Angeles City Council last week signed off on the developer’s proposal for a 51-story residential tower, marking the completion of the entitlement process for one of two high-rise projects planned for the area.

The development, which will replace an existing surface parking lot at 1105-1123 S. Olive St., is poised to bring 536 residential units and 4,178 square feet of ground-floor retail space to the South Park neighborhood. However, despite having secured all necessary approvals, the timeline for construction remains uncertain due to challenging market conditions.

While housing demand remains high in Los Angeles, multiple factors are creating uncertainty for developers, including elevated interest rates, tariff-driven increases in construction material costs, rising labor expenses, and recent immigration enforcement actions affecting the construction workforce.

As part of the approval process, Mack Real Estate Development has committed to providing nearly $11.5 million in public benefits. Half of this sum will be allocated to the City’s affordable housing trust fund, addressing critical housing needs in the region. The developer’s payment is tied to a transfer of floor area rights from the Los Angeles Convention Center, a mechanism that allows for increased density in exchange for community benefits.

The approved tower, designed by Arcadis, will rise 603 feet and feature a contemporary glass façade. The building will offer a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, while amenities will include a rooftop deck and additional recreational spaces above a four-level parking podium, which, along with six subterranean levels, will provide 581 vehicle parking spaces. The project also emphasizes sustainable transportation, with 234 bicycle parking spaces included in the plans. The development is expected to take approximately 30 months to complete once construction begins.

The 51-story tower is just one component of Mack Real Estate Development’s broader vision for the intersection. Directly across Olive Street, the firm plans to construct a second, even taller high-rise. This 60-story building would replace another surface parking lot and introduce 713 residential units and 11,277 square feet of commercial space to the neighborhood. Standing at 698 feet, the tower would rank among the tallest buildings in Los Angeles, further reshaping the city’s skyline.

Like its counterpart, the 60-story tower will feature a mix of residential and retail spaces, with 764 vehicle parking spaces and 290 bicycle parking spots spread across subterranean and above-ground levels. The project will also include 75,425 square feet of usable open space, enhancing the urban environment for future residents and visitors. In addition, the development will introduce ten commercial “live-work” condominiums to blend residential and commercial uses in a single space.

Both towers are designed to integrate into the South Park neighborhood, with plans to replace existing street trees with new London plane and Chinese flame trees. The development’s location, just blocks from the Los Angeles Convention Center and within walking distance of major transit hubs, positions it as a catalyst for further growth in the South Park neighborhood.

Nick Griffin, executive director of the Downtown Center Business Improvement District, told the Los Angeles Times that he expressed optimism about the project’s location, noting that South Park is “one of downtown’s most vibrant neighborhoods where thousands of new residences have been built in recent years.” He pointed to the area’s strong fundamentals, with downtown occupancy rates holding steady around 90 percent.

“There have already been several significant projects built along that stretch and there are another four large-scale projects within a couple of blocks,” Griffin told the Los Angeles Times, describing the emergence of “a significant residential hub” that stands to attract new residents and additional development.

Despite current market challenges, Griffin believes developers like Mack Real Estate are positioning themselves for improved conditions. “Financial conditions are going to align themselves at some point in the not too distant future,” he said in the report, “and they want to have their projects teed up and ready to go.”

Some developers with approved downtown projects are currently seeking to sell to other developers or investors while waiting for more favorable market conditions.

Mack Real Estate Development’s twin-tower project represents a notable investment in Downtown Los Angeles, addressing the growing demand for housing and commercial space in the city’s core, pending improved market conditions for construction financing and execution.