Lakewood’s Next Chapter: How Two New Projects Could Shape the City’s 3922 Home Housing Mandate

by Rick Lee

Lakewood’s Next Chapter: How Two New Projects Could Shape the City’s 3922 Home Housing Mandate

Lakewood is entering one of the most significant planning periods in its history as it works to meet the state’s requirement to accommodate 3922 new homes under California’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation program.

Instead of expanding outward, Lakewood is looking inward. City planners are studying ways to add housing within the existing boundaries by transforming underused commercial and residential sites into new, higher density neighborhoods. Two projects now moving through the approval process could set the tone for how Lakewood grows and how the city meets its housing obligations in the years ahead.

Project 1: The Ashton3 Condominiums at 4152 Paramount Boulevard

What’s Proposed

The Ashton3 Project would create a three story, 20 unit residential condominium community at 4152 Paramount Boulevard behind existing storefronts between Carson Street and Del Amo Boulevard.

Developer Ashton3 has submitted a Vesting Tentative Tract Map that allows each unit to be individually owned as part of a condominium subdivision. Each home would include a two car garage and access to landscaped open space.

The property sits in Lakewood’s C4 General Commercial Zone and uses the city’s Mixed Use Ordinance, which permits limited residential development in commercial areas that meet design and density requirements.

Design Details

Units: 20 for sale condominiums
Height: 36 feet, three stories
Access: Alley behind the property and a pedestrian walkway through the commercial parking lot
Parking: Each unit includes a private two car garage plus 14 shared spaces
Amenities: Shaded outdoor structures, landscaped courtyards, and walkways connecting to Paramount Boulevard

The plan would not remove existing storefronts. Instead, the new condos would sit behind them, turning an underused section of land into new ownership housing without changing the look of the main retail frontage.

Why It Matters

This project highlights a growing approach across California: creating more housing inside built out cities. By reimagining commercial corridors like Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood can add housing without losing its small town layout.

If approved, the Ashton3 project would add 20 new ownership opportunities in a city where new construction is limited. The Planning and Environment Commission has already recommended approval, and the proposal now moves to the Lakewood City Council for a final decision.

Project 2: Brandywine Residential Madera Townhomes at 20707 Pioneer Boulevard

What’s Proposed

On the east side of the city, Brandywine Residential has proposed the Madera Townhomes, a 45 unit condominium project at 20707 Pioneer Boulevard near Carson Street.

This infill development would replace seven older residential buildings and ten accessory structures with nine three story townhome buildings, each containing five attached homes.

Design Details

Units: 45 for sale townhomes
Mix: 29 three bedroom homes at approximately 1536 square feet and 16 four bedroom homes at about 1829 square feet
Height: 38 feet through a conditional use permit
Access: Two private drives called Boyar Drive and Taper Drive plus an interior lane named Weingart Drive
Parking: Two car garages for every unit plus nine guest spaces including one accessible space
Open Space: More than 10000 square feet of combined private and shared landscaped areas

Affordable Housing Commitment

Five of the 45 homes will be set aside as affordable housing. Two will be reserved for low income households and three for very low income households. These units will remain affordable for 45 years under an agreement with the city.

This commitment allows the developer to use California’s Density Bonus program, which provides some flexibility in design and open space standards when a project includes long term affordable homes.

Why It Matters

The Madera Townhomes proposal brings new for sale housing and long term affordable homes to an area of Pioneer Boulevard that has seen little redevelopment in decades. It supports Lakewood’s housing goals while maintaining compatibility with surrounding neighborhoods.

The project has already received Planning Commission approval and will now move forward to the City Council for a final vote.

How These Projects Fit Lakewood’s 3922 Home Mandate

The California Department of Housing and Community Development assigns every city a required number of new homes to plan for based on population and economic factors. For Lakewood, the number is 3922 new housing units to be built or planned through 2029.

To meet this requirement, Lakewood’s Housing Element identifies opportunity sites such as vacant lots, underused shopping centers, and aging residential areas where new housing could be added. Both the Ashton3 and Madera Townhomes projects come directly from that list.

They represent a moderate approach to growth, sometimes called gentle density, which focuses on small and medium sized developments that increase housing options without drastically changing neighborhood character. This method allows Lakewood to comply with state housing law while protecting the look and feel of its established communities.

Community Impact and Resident Concerns

While these projects support state housing goals, they also raise practical questions about how they will affect daily life for nearby residents.

Traffic and Parking

Both developments meet the city’s parking requirements, with private garages and guest spaces. However, neighbors may notice slight increases in traffic through alleys and side streets once the homes are occupied.

Construction and Noise

Construction will likely take 12 to 18 months for each project. The city enforces dust and noise controls along with restricted work hours to reduce disruption.

Property Values and Design Quality

Adding modern, energy efficient, owner occupied homes can help stabilize or increase nearby property values. Both projects include new landscaping and infrastructure improvements that refresh older blocks.

Affordable Housing Access

Brandywine’s five affordable units mark progress toward Lakewood’s goal of increasing long term affordability. These homes could provide rare opportunities for first time buyers and essential workers to own property in the city.

The Road Ahead

Both projects have passed their initial reviews by the Planning and Environment Commission and are now scheduled for Lakewood City Council hearings. The Council’s vote will determine whether construction can begin.

These decisions will shape how Lakewood addresses its housing mandate in the years to come. If approved, the projects will serve as models for future infill development, helping the city balance growth with community character.

What This Means for Residents

For most Lakewood homeowners, these two developments represent a turning point. They bring new investment and modern housing while signaling that growth is coming to established areas.

The city gains more for sale homes, increasing supply and ownership opportunities.
Developers receive a clear pathway for future mixed use and multi family projects.
Residents see how the city plans to meet state requirements without large high rise buildings.

The City Council’s decisions on the Ashton3 Condominiums and Madera Townhomes will likely guide how Lakewood handles new housing proposals along other commercial corridors such as South Street, Del Amo Boulevard, and Woodruff Avenue.

Lakewood Housing Update for 2025

Both projects illustrate the challenge of balancing local control with state mandates. Lakewood must show progress toward 3922 new homes or risk state enforcement that could remove its ability to deny certain developments.

By supporting well designed, context sensitive infill projects, the city may be able to meet its goals while preserving its unique community feel.

Residents can stay informed through City Council agendas, public hearings, and planning updates available on the official Lakewood website. Public feedback will remain essential as the city continues shaping its next chapter.

Lakewood’s journey toward meeting its housing requirement has begun, and it starts with the Ashton3 Condominiums on Paramount Boulevard and the Madera Townhomes on Pioneer Boulevard.