A major milestone has been reached in Downtown Los Angeles’ Arts District, as Maxxam Enterprises has officially secured approvals for a long-anticipated mixed-use project at 1100 E. 5th Street. The eight-story development, now cleared by the L.A. City Council, will replace a single-story commercial structure with a residential and retail hub at the corner of 5th and Seaton Streets, according to a report from Urbanize. Designed by acclaimed local architecture firm HansonLA, the project calls for up to 220 live/work units positioned above approximately 46,000 square feet of street-level commercial space. Plans also include a three-level subterranean parking garage.
The design allows for future flexibility: up to 20 of the proposed residential units could be swapped for an additional 17,765 square feet of commercial space depending on tenant and market demands. To facilitate the development, Maxxam received a general plan amendment and a zone change, in return for which it will provide up to 25 very low-income affordable housing units. The live/work units will be a mix of studio, one-, and three-bedroom configurations, in keeping with the district’s creative identity and housing needs. Rising approximately 116 feet, the building is poised to make a modern architectural statement with clean lines and a program rich in amenities. Residents will have access to an open-air courtyard, rooftop pool deck, recreation and fitness facilities, and even an integrated art gallery, a nod to the neighborhood’s artistic roots.
Industry reports note that the project faced some procedural hurdles: it was the subject of an appeal by the Supporters Alliance for Environmental Responsibility (SAFER), a labor-aligned advocacy group affiliated with LIUNA. SAFER challenged the adequacy of the project’s environmental review, prompting a supplemental study. That study was ultimately adopted, clearing the way for final approval.
1100 E. 5th Street is one of two transformative developments Maxxam Enterprises is advancing in the Arts District. Just blocks away, the company is also preparing to break ground on a separate eight-story mixed-use complex at 676 S. Mateo Street, another collaboration with HansonLA. That project, approved in 2022, will include up to 185 live/work units—21 of which will be designated as very low-income—alongside 23,380 square feet of commercial space tailored for art production and office use. The building will span an entire city block and offer 15,000 square feet of open space, including a rooftop lounge, urban garden, fitness center, and a publicly accessible paseo.
Together, the twin developments reflect Maxxam’s expanding footprint in the Arts District and its commitment to shaping community-focused, design-forward spaces that merge livability with cultural expression. Maxxam Enterprises, headquartered in Beverly Hills and founded in 1979, is a privately held real estate investment, development, and management firm with a proven track record spanning over 40 years. Based on its website, the firm has acquired or developed more than 200 properties—totaling over 4 million square feet across residential, office, retail, hospitality, industrial, and agricultural sectors—by identifying undervalued assets and unlocking their potential through creative repositioning, capital improvements, and active management.
