Mixed-Use

Located within the Hollywood community of the Los Angeles area, this new mixed-use development is a seven-story building with 276 residential units - 13 of which are affordable housing for ‘very low income’ households. The project includes an approximately 27,000 SF Bristol Farms grocer and 318 parking spaces.

Site Context
The project is located in Santa Monica’s Sunset Park neighborhood, a walkable residential area characterized by proximity to parks, schools, neighborhood-serving retail, and a range of housing types. The neighborhood balances a calm residential character with convenient access to transit and commercial activity along Ocean Park Boulevard. The City’s planned conversion of the approximately 192-acre Santa Monica Airport site into a future “Great Park” positions the area as an evolving recreational and civic destination. The project site is well situated to support future pedestrian and neighborhood connectivity associated with this transformation. Immediately west of the site, Clover Park provides established recreational amenities and open space. The project acknowledges this adjacency through building orientation, landscape design, and pedestrian connections that reinforce neighborhood access to open space while respecting surrounding residential development.

Design Intent
The proposed mixed-use development introduces additional mixed-income housing while maintaining compatibility with neighborhood scale and character. The design responds to two contextual conditions: the more urban frontage along Ocean Park Boulevard and 28th Street, and the park-oriented residential edge adjacent to Clover Park. Active ground-floor uses, transparent storefronts, clearly defined residential entries, and enhanced sidewalks support a pedestrian-oriented public realm. A connection from 28th Street toward Clover Park strengthens walkability and neighborhood connectivity, providing access to ground-level stoop units with additional landscaping to create a residentially scaled park interface.

Massing and Neighborhood Compatibility
Building massing reflects the scale and rhythm of Sunset Park while expressing a contemporary architectural identity. Upper-level setbacks above the third story reduce perceived height along all frontages, with additional step-backs facing Ocean Park Boulevard further softening the building profile and transition to the lower scale adjacent context. Articulated massing, generous landscaped courtyards, and pedestrian pathways introduce light, air, and visual permeability while improving circulation between the street, residences, and adjacent park areas.

Architectural Character and Public Realm
The building is designed as a four-sided composition that reinforces an active streetscape. Parking is screened by residential or commercial uses to maintain pedestrian continuity. Neighborhood-serving retail at the Ocean Park Boulevard and 28th Street corner establishes a gateway presence. Podium and rooftop open spaces provide shared amenities oriented toward sunlight and views, and all residences include private outdoor space and access to natural light and ventilation taking advantage of Santa Monica’s coastal climate.

The Carina is part of an overall newly planned mixed-use community on the site of the MainPlace Santa Ana Mall. The mall's new master plan will include the addition of a food hall in "European marketplace" style, an interactive play center for children, upgrades to its movie theater, a grocery store, and two apartment communities with two new residential communities.

The Carina is slated to provide 407 highly amenitized units within a modern and timeless building that will be the new beacon of living at the MainPlace mall. Situated on the highly visible avenue of Main St, the south and east facade represent a high level of articulation using a rhythm of balconies and concrete frames as balconies. At their apex, the south and east façade come together to create a tall, elegant frame comprised of soft natural woods and tall, elegant glass while culminating in an overarching roof element which creates an overall sense of arrival.

The long sweeping east elevation is given a unique identity using slim articulated frames to accentuate key moments in the building façade, using smooth metal panels and light-colored plaster gives it a modern elegant feel. Using a mix of landscaping and curated horizontal fins to deter the visibility of the garage, creating a higher level of experience at the pedestrian level.