Construction began this week for a $14-million residential-retail development in San Pedro

The project, located on a 14,400-square-foot site at 336 W. 7th Street, calls for the construct which is replacing a parking lot and small commercial building at 336-350 W. 7th Street, will consist of a five-story edifice containing 32 apartments - including three extremely low-income affordable units - above 3,750 square feet of ground-floor retail space and parking for 44 vehicles.

Torrance-based Breen Engineering is designing the contemporary podium-type building, which will include common amenities such as a fitness room, a courtyard, and a rooftop deck.

The project, which is a joint venture between Mountain Pacific, South Bay Developers, and Ark Construction & Development, is scheduled for completion in Summer 2022.

Mountain Pacific and its partners targeted the project site due to its location within an Federal Opportunity Zone, as well as the ability to achieve additional height and density through the Transit Oriented Communities incentives, according to a project representative.

One of the partners, South Bay Developers, is attached to a similar eight-story, 99-unit housing project planned a few blocks away at 444 W. 5th Street.