KOR Realty Group, one of the West's premier developers of high-end residential and business properties, is building a 115-unit 'live-work' development on the north side of Venice Blvd. between Clarington Ave. and Dunn Drive.

Construction began in mid-2004.

All of the units will be rentals, says Kate Bartolo, KOR's senior vice-president for development, with the Venice Blvd. side of the units oriented to commercial, or working, use, and the northern side, as well as the upper floors, earmarked for apartments.

She said the company hopes to do tree-planting and landscaping not only on its own property and the city parkways abutting it but also on the opposite sides of both Clarington and Dunn.

There will be separate entrances to the living and working areas in each unit.

Why did the company choose Palms?

"This area is ready to turn the tide," she said, pointing to the site's proximity to both Brotman Memorial Medical Center and Sony Studios. "It's a catalytic project for what we call 'workforce housing.' "

She said the company has not yet decided on a name for the development and would like some suggestions.

She likened it to KOR's Pegasus Apartments project at 5th and Flower Sts. in downtown Los Angeles, though the rents will be lower.

Currently, KOR owns and manages 24 apartment buildings containing a total of over 3,500 units. These diverse holdings are located throughout California. Go here to see what KOR has to say about them. It also has done commercial redevelopment in the Old Bank, Financial and Artists' districts in Downtown Los Angeles.

Early in 2004, there remained one building on the 54,319-square-foot Venice Boulevard site, occupied by Choice Insurance and ITA Productions, an acting school. The building was used by Petterson's Coffee until a few years ago; at that time there was a well-frequented newsstand on the corner.

It is across Clarington from the Natalie Thai restaurant.