April 20, 2017 Karen Jordan, Bisnow Los Angeles -- (Article Interviews Peter Strauss)
Karaoke, Korean barbecue and spas. Among LA residents, those are often the first things that pop to mind when they think of Koreatown. But the demographics and the dynamics of the community are changing as it increasingly becomes a hotbed for hotels, office and multifamily with Millennials flocking to the area.
"It is driven by Millennials and younger people looking for an urban lifestyle," Iconic Investments founder Peter Strauss said. "A lot of them don't have cars. They will Uber from here to there. Cars and a parking space have become less important for some of the younger generation because they have easy access to Uber and the Metro station."
Strauss has been working in the neighborhood since 2002 and has seen it change a lot over the years. He recalls how, years ago, some young professionals would come to Koreatown just to hang out at the Line Hotel on Normandie and Wilshire. Now it is hard to keep pace with all the development in the area, and restaurant delivery services like Postmates and DoorDash are springing up as a result of increased demand. There are more than 6,000 units under construction or in development in Koreatown, according to Strauss.
Offers are currently being reviewed for Sanctuary on Kingsley at 328 North Kingsley Drive, one of the properties Strauss is marketing in Koreatown. The parcel of land is around 28,370 SF, and it is being marketed for $4.89M. A developer could build up to 48 Class-A units, or 44 market-rate units and four very-low income units, on the property. The site is just one of many that is being singled out for projects in the booming section of the city.
Jamison Services is an active developer in Koreatown. "Koreatown is the epitome of a transit-oriented, cultural epicenter filled with diversity, density and new ideas," Jamison Realty CEO Jaime Lee said. The firm, which has long had a commitment to the neighborhood, now has seven multifamily projects under construction: 3060 West Olympic Blvd., 3345 Wilshire Blvd., 3350 Wilshire Blvd., 3640 Wilshire Blvd., 535 South Kingsley, 685 South Catalina Ave. and 700 South Manhattan.
CityView recently developed The Pearl on Wilshire, a 346-unit building, at 687 South Hobart Blvd., at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard. “Koreatown is a perfect example of the type of neighborhood CityView targets,” CityView CEO Sean Burton said. “There is incredible consumer demand in this area due to a severe housing shortage, and its location in the middle of LA puts residents close to jobs and everything else the city has to offer in terms of entertainment, restaurants and cultural amenities. "Bernal Capital Group is developing four multifamily buildings in Koreatown, according to its president Anthony Bernal. "We wanted to do condo-style living, but in small spaces," Bernal said. "The micro-units are in high demand in this area." One of the projects, at 681 Shatto Place, has barn doors and $1,200 vanities in some units.
He said many residents are attracted to the character of the older buildings and not worried about the lack of parking since Millennials take Uber and local transit. Some of the units in Bernal's building even boast views of DTLA. "Now's the time to buy, buy, buy," Bernal said. "That's why we're here." This development and similar ones show how old Koreatown is mixing with the new.
Iconic Investments
16530 Ventura Blvd
Suite #409
Encino, CA 91436
T: 747-444-3303
E: info@iconicinv.com
W: www.iconicinv.com
* Photos are courtesy off Karen Jordan at www.bisnow.com