JDC Completes Crenshaw Apartments in L.A.’s West Adams District

By Jeffrey Steele, Contributing Writer

Los Angeles—Crenshaw Apartments, a new, two-story, 10-unit ground-up apartment project in the historic West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles, has been completed. Built by JDC Construction + Development Group, the rental property stands at 2336 South Crenshaw Blvd., in the center of an urban district undergoing a swift and sweeping renaissance.

The arrival of the new Crenshaw light rail line, coupled with the revival of the neighboring Crenshaw Plaza shopping center, is helping spark a dramatic revival of the neighborhood surrounding Crenshaw Apartments.

“In the world of property development, keeping an eye on transitional neighborhoods is a key component,” John Donaldson, president of JDC Construction + Development Group, tells MHN. “The West Adams area has been going through a revitalization period for the last couple of years. And the new Crenshaw/LAX light rail line that is scheduled to open in 2019 will connect downtown L.A. with Culver City, in addition to the West Adams district, USC and South L.A. Even without the light rail, the location of Crenshaw Apartments is only a 15-minute drive, or nine miles, from either direction to USC or SMU, making it an ideal location for students.”

Much of the residential stock in West Adams is characterized by large, once-elegant Craftsman-style single-family homes, many of which are in need of restoration. Also predominating are older apartment buildings requiring major updating work. “This project is one of the very few new construction projects in the area,” Donaldson comments.

He reports his company didn’t encounter any pushback from the city with respect to design. “I believe they are in support of the revitalization of this area, as they are investing into the future of this area themselves with the new rail system,” he says. “I believe the contemporary design is similar to the designs that are going up in other areas, such as Venice, West L.A. and Santa Monica, which have all gone through revitalization processes and are thriving.”

Donaldson reports that property developer JV Crenshaw LLC, purchased the site with existing plans. But working with the developer, JDC Construction + Development Group made significant revisions to ensure the apartment homes met the needs of the area’s rental market.

“In doing so, we eliminated the community’s laundry room, installing washers and dryers in each apartment, as well as individual water meters for each unit,” he says. “Finally, charging capabilities for electric cars were added in some of the project’s parking stalls.”

The ground-up development will help point the way to the West Adams district of the future, he adds. “I believe the Crenshaw Apartments symbolize a new bar for developers and renovators in the area, and give the neighborhood a glimpse of what is to come.”