WeHo Heights Residents Opposed Senior Housing Plan

Local community members have raised concerns over a proposed 49-unit affordable senior project on Larrabee Street.

Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Apartments

Bold vector editorial illustration of a modern multi-story building on a hillside, representing local housing development tensions. — West Hollywood residents are challenging a proposed 49-unit affordable senior housing development on Larrabee Street, citing concerns over emergency access and local infrastructure. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Residents in the WeHo Heights neighborhood are challenging a plan to construct a 49-unit senior housing project at 1238-1244 N. Larrabee Street. The development, currently slated for five to six stories, has drawn scrutiny regarding fire safety and access.

Why it matters

The controversy highlights deep-seated tensions between local residents and municipal housing goals. Residents argue that the hillside location is ill-suited for the project due to significant emergency evacuation and traffic concerns.

The proposed site at 1238-1244 N. Larrabee Street currently contains two buildings with a total of 14 apartments. The city project, which aims to provide 49 senior units, is being processed under state law AB 2162.

The players

Linc Housing

This organization is the developer responsible for the proposed senior housing project on Larrabee Street.

West Hollywood City Council

This municipal body approved the $5.145 million in funding from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund for the project.

The details

The project is proceeding under California law AB 2162, a provision that allows for ministerial approval of supportive housing and excludes the project from the traditional Planning Commission public hearing process. Meanwhile, local residents are also actively appealing a separate, 22-unit project currently proposed for Shoreham Drive.

The City Council approved $5.145 million for the project in September 2024.
A neighborhood meeting to discuss the project is set for September 22, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
The project could receive ministerial approval from the city on September 26, 2026.

Culture Shift

This development reflects a growing collision between state-level density mandates and neighborhood-level control over hillside infrastructure. Projects utilizing California law AB 2162 signal a major shift away from traditional municipal discretionary reviews toward streamlined ministerial approvals.

Residents living near the Larrabee Street site may face changes to local traffic patterns and emergency access routes if the development proceeds. The shift toward ministerial approval also limits the public ability to influence the design and scale of new housing projects in the area.

The takeaway

The move toward ministerial approval for supportive housing often leaves local communities feeling excluded from the land-use process. Residents should prioritize engagement at scheduled neighborhood meetings to ensure safety concerns are formally documented before approval deadlines.