Developer Began Framing Six-Story Project on Pico

Los Angeles developers are utilizing transit-based incentives to advance multi-unit residential projects.

Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Construction

Isometric editorial illustration of a partially framed wooden apartment building under construction on an urban corner lot. — Developers have begun framing a new six-story residential project on Pico Boulevard, replacing a former retail site in Los Angeles. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you believe new mixed-use developments are improving housing affordability in your community?

Construction teams have commenced wood framing on a six-story mixed-use development located at 5843 W. Pico Boulevard. The project replaces a former Walgreens site with 48 apartment units.

Why it matters

The site's transition from retail to high-density housing highlights the ongoing shift in land use for urban corridors. Developers are increasingly leveraging specific zoning incentives to increase housing capacity on infill lots.

The six-story building introduces 48 apartment units, including five designated as extremely low-income affordable housing. This project replaces the footprint of a single former Walgreens location.

The players

Giltner Realty Advisors

The developer managing the mixed-use residential project at 5843 W. Pico Boulevard.

Scales Lab Architects

The design firm responsible for the architectural planning of the six-story building.

The details

Designed by Scales Lab Architects, the building incorporates one level of ground-floor retail space situated above a basement parking garage. The development utilizes the Transit Oriented Communities program to secure incentives, allowing for the density of the 48-unit structure on the Pico Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue parcel.

Wood framing for the project is rising as of October 2026.

Market Landscape

This development follows the pattern of utilizing the Transit Oriented Communities program to increase density on previously commercial infill sites. The project marks a clear shift from legacy single-story retail footprints toward mixed-use urban residential configurations.

Operators looking at similar infill opportunities should audit local transit program eligibility to maximize unit density. Assess whether your current property holdings align with regional housing priorities for potential zoning and incentive eligibility.

The takeaway

The conversion of single-use retail to multi-story residential highlights the value of transit-proximity incentives in urban planning. Keep track of your site's distance to transit hubs to determine eligibility for density-bonus programs in your jurisdiction.