ATWATER VILLAGE CUSTOM HOME BUILDER & GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Built With Intention. Bungalows Beside The River.
ATWATER VILLAGE HOMES ARE BUILT DIFFERENTLY
Heart Construction is a general contractor serving Atwater Village, specializing in custom homes, full renovations, and bungalow additions on flat, walkable streets. We work with homeowners, architects, engineers and designers through organized pre-construction, transparent budgeting and steady execution.
Building in Atwater Village rewards planning.
Lots near the Los Angeles River fall under the River Improvement Overlay. A major remodel with exterior work, or a new home, needs a City Planning administrative clearance before LADBS plan check. It does not change size, height or setbacks, and neighbors expect street-facing character to be respected.
Behind that sit 1920s-era framing and hidden conditions, LADBS plan check and utility timing, and small lots with close neighbors. Sequencing matters because each one shapes the next decision.
Our role is to guide the process so decisions feel informed, not reactive — starting with a founder on your first call.
Near Chevy Chase Park or the Los Feliz 3-Par Golf Course, we build bungalow additions, garage conversions, ADUs and kitchen and bath remodels — we bring the same structure and discipline we apply across the Northeast 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 Cypress Park, Mount Washington, Eagle Rock and beyond.
OUR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY ATWATER VILLAGE 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 Atwater Village
LADBS plan check sets the pace in Atwater Village, with utility coordination close behind. Routine permits take 2–6 months; projects needing City Planning clearances, such as work under the River Improvement Overlay, take 6–12 months. Construction for a custom home runs 10–16 months. The lever that protects the schedule is a complete, pre-checked submittal, with feasibility done before design begins.
What It Costs
Costs reflect work on 1920s-era homes, where hidden conditions, flood-plain soils and required upgrades are common, so we assess site and structure early. Custom homes typically run $550–$900+ per sq ft; whole-home renovations $375–$650+ per sq ft; detached ADUs $275,000–$500,000+; pools $120,000–$340,000+. Soft costs — design, soils and structural studies, permits — are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins.
Permits & Local Rules
LADBS plan check covers additions, new homes, ADUs and structural work; small kitchen and bath jobs can use Express Permit. Near the river, a City Planning clearance comes first. State ADU law sets firm review deadlines for the city, and new homes and larger additions need an LAUSD school fee certificate before the permit is issued. We map all of this in ZIMAS before design, so nothing surprises you at plan check.
Where We Build in Atwater Village
West Glendale, with the flat, walkable streets of the old river flood plain running out toward Glenhurst Park, Chevy Chase Park and North Atwater Park. Review can differ between West Glendale and the park-adjacent blocks around Glenhurst or Chevy Chase Park, because river proximity and corridor rules depend on the parcel, so we check each one rather than assume. 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 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 Atwater Village
Do I need a permit to add on?
Yes. Additions, new homes, ADUs and structural alterations go through LADBS Building Plan Check, and a garage conversion follows the same path. Small kitchen and bath jobs can often use Express Permit. Near the Los Angeles River, a City Planning Administrative Clearance may come first. We check your parcel in ZIMAS before design so you know the path up front.
How long does an addition take?
Routine permits run 2–6 months and complex ones 6–12 months; construction for a custom home then takes 10–16 months. For ADUs, state law requires a completeness check within 15 business days and action within 60 days of a complete application. A complete, pre-checked submittal helps any second story or addition keep moving.
What does a custom home cost?
Custom homes typically run $550–$900+ per sq ft. Older sites with hidden conditions, required upgrades and higher finish levels push toward the upper end. Soft costs — design, studies, permits — are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins.
Does the river overlay apply?
Lots within roughly 2,500 feet of the Los Angeles River carry the LA-RIO suffix. A major remodel over 50% of building value with exterior work, or a new build, needs a City Planning Administrative Clearance for landscaping and design standards. The overlay does not change size, height or setbacks. Check ZIMAS for your parcel.
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 Atwater Village homeowners:
- Custom Home vs Remodel vs Rebuild in Los Angeles
- ADU Los Angeles: Is It Right for Your Property?
- Cost to Build a Custom Home in Los Angeles (2026)
Nearby areas we serve: Cypress Park · Mount Washington · Eagle Rock · Montecito Heights · Glassell Park · Highland Park
Region: All Northeast LA communities we serve · Everywhere we build