Planning Commission to consider 8-unit apartment complex on 4th Street

An artist's rendering of a proposed apartment complex at 8139 4th St.

DOWNEY – Efforts to further infuse downtown Downey with residential development will continue Wednesday when the Planning Commission considers a proposal to build a two-story, eight-unit apartment complex.

Real estate agent George Sanabria is proposing to build the apartment complex at 8139 4th St. on property currently occupied by a 1,326 sq. ft. single-family home. Sanabria owns the property. 

The apartment building would feature eight two-story units, each with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Units would range in size from 822 square feet to 1,011 square feet; four of the units would feature porches on either the first or second floor. 

Plans include a carport with 12 total parking spaces – eight spaces for residents and four parking spaces for guests. 

City officials said they tried to secure two parking spaces per unit but “the applicant stated that the addition of two parking spaces would require eliminating one unit, which would render the project infeasible.”

The exterior of 8139 4th St. as it appeared Monday. Photo by Eric Pierce

According to the Downtown Downey Specific Plan, the development could have reached four stories tall, but city staff members and Sanabria agreed to a two-story maximum to keep the apartment building in character with nearby two-story duplexes and single-family homes. 

As presented, the apartment building would be built in Spanish architectural style, with tiled roofs, wrought-iron balconies and wall sconces.