Developer targets Expo/Bundy Station area as part of broader affordable housing expansion across West Los Angeles
Los Angeles continues to grapple with its housing affordability crisis, but emerging developers are finding innovative ways to take advantage of city incentives and transit-oriented development opportunities to bring much-needed units to market. Developer Passo has unveiled plans for an 86-unit affordable housing complex near the Expo/Bundy Station, marking another strategic move in the company’s expansion across West Los Angeles.
The proposed seven-story development at 12222 Exposition Blvd. would replace two single-family homes with a contemporary residential building featuring exclusively studio and one-bedroom apartments, according to a report from Urbanize. Notably absent from the project is on-site parking, a design choice enabled by the site’s proximity to the Metro Expo Line and the city’s transit-oriented development policies.
Aero Collective has designed the building as a minimalist structure characterized by clean geometric volumes and a textured façade. The architectural approach emphasizes simplicity through cubic geometry while incorporating vertical and horizontal window patterns that create visual rhythm. A rooftop garden will soften the building’s stark concrete finish, balancing the structure’s contemporary aesthetic with natural elements.
Passo is seeking approval for the 12222 Exposition Blvd. project through Los Angeles’ Affordable Housing Incentive Program, which offers developers increased density and floor area bonuses in exchange for providing low- and moderate-income housing. The proposal also requests reductions to required on-site open space, compensating with amenities including a community room and rooftop deck. The latest development represents a broader transformation occurring throughout the Exposition Corridor, where the Transit Neighborhood Plan has enabled widespread rezoning from single-family residential to higher-density multifamily housing. This regulatory shift has accelerated redevelopment activity along the transit line, attracting developers focused on affordable housing production.
For Passo, the Exposition Boulevard project continues a rapid expansion strategy that has positioned the company as a significant player in Los Angeles’ affordable housing sector. Founded in early 2024, the developer has assembled a portfolio of approximately 620 units across various development stages, representing more than $200 million in total project costs.
The company’s growth trajectory includes multiple West Los Angeles sites, with recent acquisitions in Westwood and Sawtelle neighborhoods complementing ongoing projects like a 162-unit development at 1520 Saltair Avenue. That project similarly leverages the Affordable Housing Incentive Program to transform a former restaurant site into transit-accessible housing focused on studio and one-bedroom units.
Passo’s strategy reflects broader market dynamics driving affordable housing development in high-cost Los Angeles neighborhoods. By concentrating on sites near transit infrastructure and maximizing density allowances, the developer can achieve project economics that work for affordable housing while serving areas traditionally dominated by market-rate development.
The Exposition Boulevard project awaits city approval as part of the entitlement process, with construction timelines dependent on regulatory review. If approved, the development would add significant affordable housing inventory to an area experiencing rapid transformation driven by transit access and evolving zoning policies.
