The Los Angeles City Council has approved 670 Mesquit, a 670,000-square-foot mixed-use development in the Arts District designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), as first reported by Urbanize LA.

Led by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels, the development will transform an industrial site into a residential and commercial hub featuring 894 housing units, including 144 affordable units, alongside a boutique hotel, office space, a charter elementary school, a fitness center and retail spaces.

Planners say the development will also enhance walkability, improve access to the Los Angeles River and strengthen connections between the Arts District, Boyle Heights, Downtown LA and the new 6th Street PARC recreational space. This will be done via an open connection and pedestrian corridors between the 6th and 7th Street bridges.

Overall, the project aims to address housing demand while integrating with existing infrastructure to link the neighborhood to the broader city network.

As of 12 August, the official start date for construction is yet to be been announced.