ADAMS-NORMANDIE CUSTOM HOME BUILDER & GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Built With Intention. Craftsman Streets Preserved.
ADAMS-NORMANDIE HOMES ARE BUILT DIFFERENTLY
Heart Construction is a general contractor serving Adams-Normandie, specializing in custom homes, full renovations, and historic-sensitive restorations of Craftsman and Shingle houses. We work with homeowners, architects, engineers and designers on flat, historic streets near Loren Miller Park, through organized pre-construction, transparent budgeting and steady execution.
Building in Adams-Normandie isn't simple.
Exterior work here starts with City Planning, not the building counter. The Adams-Normandie HPOZ reviews street-visible changes, additions and new homes against its Preservation Plan, through a public Certificate of Appropriateness or Compatibility process, all before LADBS plan check can begin.
Then come the overlapping South Los Angeles zoning overlay, ADU completeness review with utility clearances, and old-house surprises behind walls and under floors. Sequencing matters because each step feeds the next.
We guide the process so decisions feel informed, not reactive, and so the plan reads as respectful to neighbors and the HPOZ Board.
Our work here includes historic-sensitive full remodels, rear ADUs and garage conversions, and kitchen and bath updates. Near the Van Buren Place Historic District, we bring the same structure and discipline we apply across South LA and every project in Los Angeles.
RECENT PROJECTS
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![Malibu Pier home interior featuring a warm modern living space with built-in seating, layered textures, custom wood furniture, and an open layout flowing into a minimalist kitchen, showcasing Heart Construction’s intentional coastal design.]()
MALIBU PIER
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![Pacific Palisades ocean-view backyard with custom pool, palm trees, lounge seating, and manicured lawn overlooking the Pacific coastline.]()
MALIBU
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![Marina del Rey home interior with warm modern design featuring a natural wood dining table, sculptural pendant lighting, plaster walls, and an open kitchen with custom cabinetry, showcasing Heart Construction’s intentional coastal craftsmanship.]()
MARINA DEL REY
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![Open-concept living room in a Hollywood Hills home remodel with folding glass walls, custom built-ins, soft neutral furnishings, and seamless indoor-outdoor flow overlooking canyon views, showcasing Heart Construction’s warm modern design.]()
HOLLYWOOD HILLS
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![Pacific Palisades luxury bathroom with freestanding soaking tub, marble walk-in shower, herringbone tile walls, and sculptural glass chandelier framed by natural light and greenery views.]()
BRENTWOOD
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![Pacific Palisades modern custom home with smooth stucco façade, black-framed windows, vertical wood garage door, and drought-tolerant landscaping.]()
MAR VISTA
OUR REMODELING SERVICES
At Heart Construction, we specialize in creating thoughtfully designed homes that reflect the way you live. From custom ground-up builds to full-scale renovations and refined living spaces, we guide every project with craftsmanship, clarity and care for homeowners in Athens, Willowbrook, Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw and beyond.
OUR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY ADAMS-NORMANDIE PROCESS
PLAN
First a Strategic Visioning Session: A conversation about your goals, budget and timeline, and a frank read on what your site will allow. Complimentary.
TEAM
Second we assemble the architect, structural and geotechnical engineers, civil engineer, biologist and designers your project needs — matched to your style and site's constraints.
CALL
Third a Professional Services Agreement and a small retainer begin feasibility, permitting strategy, design coordination and line-by-line budgeting.
PERMITS
We assemble and file the complete CDP and building-permit package, coordinate Fire and Environmental Health reviews, and lock scope, finishes and schedule before groundbreaking.
CONSTRUCTION
Milestone-based build. Change orders are priced and approved in writing before work begins. You get a weekly update every week — progress, decisions needed, what's next.
CLOSEOUT
Finally Walkthrough with Final inspections, punch list, documentation and warranty handover. Payments are tied to completed milestones, never arbitrary percentages.
After you contact us, Within one business day, Asaf will call to understand your property and goals. If it's a fit, we schedule a site visit. There's no obligation and no pressure — just a clear picture of what's possible.
What to Know Before
You Build in Adams-Normandie
Two reviews set the pace here: HPOZ review through City Planning, then LADBS plan check. Routine permitting runs 2–6 months. Projects needing a Certificate of Appropriateness or Compatibility, or Board review of street-visible work, run 6–12 months, with the historic clearance finishing before plan check begins. Construction for a custom home takes 10–16 months. The lever that protects your schedule is a complete, Preservation Plan-compliant first submittal.
What It Costs
Century-old construction and period-appropriate materials drive costs here, especially near the West Adams Street Tract, where original details are worth keeping. Custom homes typically run $500–$750+ per sq ft; whole-home renovations $325–$600+ per sq ft; detached ADUs $250,000–$450,000+; pools $120,000–$300,000+. Soft costs — design, historic review, surveys, permits — are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins.
Permits & Local Rules
Exterior work goes through City Planning under the Adams-Normandie HPOZ, using a Certificate of Appropriateness or Compatibility, and then LADBS plan check. The Preservation Plan, which asks for historically resembling materials and covers garages, applies to ADUs and conversions. The South Los Angeles zoning overlay is checked alongside it. Street-visible changes go to the HPOZ Board at a public meeting. We sequence all of this from feasibility, so design decisions are made with the constraints known.
Where We Build in Adams-Normandie
Kenwood Park Tract, West Adams Street Tract, across flat lots of historic Craftsman and Shingle homes. The Van Buren Place Historic District, a National Register block, carries the strictest character expectations, while in the Kenwood Park and West Adams Street tracts the mix of contributing and non-contributing houses shapes which review applies. Not sure which rules apply to your parcel? A feasibility review answers that in two to four weeks.
Meet the Builders Behind Your Project
Asaf Bar-Hen — Co-Founder & Developer Asaf leads design and development from concept to completion. His background spans 15 years in hospitality design, seven years in renewable energy and energy-efficient building, and real-estate work across the U.S., Asia and Central America. He leads every first call and brings a sustainability lens to each project, from energy-efficient design to fire-resilient construction.
Jason Aizenberg — Co-Founder Jason runs the operational side of every project — permits, design meetings, scheduling, subcontractor coordination and site logistics. Clients describe him as the person who "managed everything so we could focus on our family.”
California Contractors State License Board #1146456 — Class B General Building Contractor. Verify on CSLB ↗
25+ years of combined experience across high-end residential construction in Los Angeles
Frequently Asked Questions
About Renovation in Adams-Normandie
Do I need HPOZ approval first?
Yes, for most exterior work. The HPOZ reviews street-visible changes, additions and new homes against the Adams-Normandie Preservation Plan, and that clearance comes before LADBS plan check. Work not visible from the street is generally less affected, but we confirm your status in a feasibility review so nothing is guessed.
How long does HPOZ review take?
A Certificate of Appropriateness or Compatibility can take up to 75 days and may be appealed to the Area Planning Commission, followed by LADBS plan check. Plan on 2–6 months for routine permitting and 6–12 months when HPOZ review applies. For rear units, see our ADU construction timeline guide.
Cost to build a home here?
Custom homes typically run $500–$750+ per sq ft. Period-appropriate materials, century-old conditions behind walls and HPOZ-driven design push toward the upper end. Soft costs — design, historic review, surveys, permits — are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins.
Contributor or Non-Contributor?
Contributor properties need a Certificate of Appropriateness to alter the front or build a large addition. Non-Contributors need a Certificate of Compatibility for demolition or new construction. We check your parcel's status first, then shape the scope around the Preservation Plan so the facade and materials stay compatible.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. Heart Construction holds California Contractors State License Board license #1146456 and is bonded and insured for large-scale residential construction, major remodels and structural work. You can verify the license on the CSLB website.
Guides for Adams-Normandie homeowners:
- Custom Home vs Remodel vs Rebuild in Los Angeles
- ADU Los Angeles: Is It Right for Your Property?
- Whole Home Remodel vs Remodeling in Phases in Los Angeles
Nearby areas we serve: Athens · Willowbrook · Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw · Westmont · Broadway-Manchester · West Adams
Region: All South LA communities we serve · Everywhere we build