Onni Group is pressing forward with a reimagined mixed-use project in Los Angeles’ Arts District, shifting its focus from office space to housing as the real estate market continues to evolve post-pandemic.
According to a recent application filed with the City of Los Angeles, Onni plans to build two residential towers at 2143 East Violet Street. The new design includes a 30-story building and a 19-story building, offering a combined total of 474 apartments. Unit sizes will range from one to three bedrooms. The project will also include a modest commercial footprint with just over 2,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space and subterranean parking.
Rendering Courtesy of SCB
As part of the city’s affordable housing requirements under Measure JJJ, 76 of the apartments will be designated for very low- and extremely low-income households.
The design, led by architecture firm SCB, retains the towers’ original planned heights of 344 feet and 226 feet. The current configuration marks a notable departure from Onni’s original 2021 proposal, which included 347 apartments and a substantial 187,000 square feet of office space. That office component has now been eliminated in favor of increased residential capacity.
This change in direction comes amid a broader trend in Los Angeles real estate, where developers are rethinking office-heavy projects due to reduced demand. Hybrid and remote work patterns, established during the COVID-19 pandemic, have left many office spaces across the city underutilized. Onni’s pivot reflects a growing emphasis on meeting housing needs while maintaining economic viability in a changing market.
The company is not alone in this shift. Other major developers, including Tishman Speyer, have made similar moves to scale back or cancel office projects in the Arts District and surrounding areas.
Though Onni may not be expanding at the rapid pace seen in previous years, the firm remains an active force in the Los Angeles development scene. Current projects include a high-rise underway at Olympic Boulevard and Hill Street in Downtown LA, as well as a planned two-tower complex in Glendale. These efforts underscore Onni’s continued commitment to the region, with a strategy that responds to evolving urban needs and demand for housing.