How did they built this when it completely break zoning rules? (city of LA)
Been an analyst for about 5 months.

So I was underwriting a mid to small size apartment building. I noticed the building next door is this big kinda new looking building. So I hop on ZIMAS to have a looksee.

The large property next door is built on 3 lots; each the size of the building next door I was UW. All the lots are R4 zoning.

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Doing research I find this building was built in 2013 and has 46 units; when the R4 zoning 4,000 sqft per unit should mean all 3 lots combined actually could only allow for 5 base units + TOC + height district bonus. So 46 units is waaaaaaay off from the units that should apparently be possible on that amount of land.

For reference the address is 341 S Gramercy Pl; the large property I am wondering how they built is the one next door on the corner. I find it hard to believe the zoning changed that radically in 6 years and I don't understand how they built what they did on the land they did given the zoning and restrictions.

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And generally; I think I often see large apartment properties in zoning areas where they shouldn't be possible. I just haven't actually dug into the info like I did this time.

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Does anyone have any idea how people are able to do stuff like this? It really has me confused. I'm going by the zoning rules so much but apparently the rules just don't apply in some cases? I don't get it.
[{"id": "ekl9ajn", "text": "A developer can get a PD or zoning exemption from the city. Usually takes a first step meeting and to be seen by a development review board", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "ekl9xgw", "text": "You can get a variance to build bigger. Usually need the local community to approve.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "eklcfng", "text": "R4 in LA is 1 unit per 400 sq feet of land, those combined lots are 20700, which equals 52 units. TOC for those lots is Tier 3, which is a 70% density bonus. Which equls 88 units\n\n&amp;#x200B;\n\nHere's the link for the zoning code in LA:\n\n[https://planning.lacity.org/zone\\_code/Appendices/sum\\_of\\_zone.pdf](https://planning.lacity.org/zone_code/Appendices/sum_of_zone.pdf)\n\nThat whole area is dense apartment buildings. \n\n&amp;#x200B;\n\nSoure: I work for a broker that sells developable land in Los Angeles. Is your company hiring any other analysts? lol", "replies": [{"id": "ekld2vn", "text": "Nvm, didn't see the R'**D**', sorry", "replies": [{"id": "ekld6j9", "text": "No worries. Glad to help. Make sure to read the suffixes as well. This is R4-1. The end pages tell you what the suffixes are, which are usually more restrictions.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}]