DOWNTOWN CUSTOM HOME BUILDER & GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Built With Intention. Historic Lofts, Modern Towers.
DOWNTOWN HOMES ARE BUILT DIFFERENTLY
Heart Construction is a general contractor serving Downtown, specializing in custom homes, full renovations, and loft and condo interiors inside historic and high-rise buildings. We work with homeowners, architects, engineers and designers through organized pre-construction, transparent budgeting and steady execution from first call to closeout, so you stay in control.
Building in Downtown rewards planning.
Most condo and loft buildings require HOA approval before renovation, separate from the city permit, and LADBS then reviews the plans. Both set the sequence — work hours, elevator reservations and insurance certificates — so we read the building's rules first and give you a clear schedule.
Historic or adaptive-reuse status can add preservation review, a change of use draws closer LADBS scrutiny, and parking and elevator limits shape every delivery. Sequencing the approvals before design is locked protects your budget and your schedule.
We guide the process so every decision feels informed, not reactive, from the first HOA conversation to the final walkthrough.
From Historic Core lofts near Pico House to Bunker Hill towers by Angels Flight, we handle loft and condo full remodels, kitchens and bathrooms. We bring the same structure and discipline we apply across the Central 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 East Hollywood, Chinatown, Echo Park and beyond.
OUR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY DOWNTOWN 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 Downtown
In Downtown, HOA approval and LADBS plan check set the pace. Routine permits take 2–6 months; projects that need Planning clearances or a change of use take 6–12 months. Construction for a custom home runs 10–16 months. The lever that protects your schedule is early feasibility and a complete submittal, so neither the board nor the city sends the plans back.
What It Costs
Costs here rise with fixed footprints, shared building systems and HOA logistics rather than lot or site work. 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, exploratory checks behind the walls, permits — are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins.
Permits & Local Rules
LADBS plan check is the core review, and most condo buildings also need HOA approval before renovation, separate from the city permit. Older buildings converted to housing go through the Adaptive Reuse Ordinance, while designated historic buildings need Office of Historic Resources review. Change-of-use projects draw more intensive LADBS review. We sequence these from feasibility, with one point of contact managing each, so design decisions are made with the constraints known.
Where We Build in Downtown
Bunker Hill, Arts District, Historic Core, South Park, Jewelry District, Gallery Row, Toy District, Flower District, Broadway Theater District — a dense urban core of lofts and towers. Historic Core holds converted early-1900s lofts, while Bunker Hill and South Park are towers with strict building management and tighter elevator and work-hour rules. 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 Downtown
Permit and HOA approval needed?
Usually both. LADBS issues the city permit after plan check, and most condo buildings require separate HOA approval before any work, including set work hours, elevator use and contractor insurance. We prepare the plan package the board asks for and secure written approval before demolition.
How long does a remodel take?
Once permits and HOA approval are in hand, construction for a custom home runs 10–16 months. The permit itself takes 2–6 months for routine work and 6–12 months with Planning clearances. A complete submittal is the best protection; see our guide on how to prepare for a remodel.
Cost to build a home in Downtown?
Custom homes typically run $550–$900+ per sq ft. Fixed footprints, shared building systems and HOA logistics push costs toward the upper end, and older buildings carry unknowns behind the walls. Soft costs are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins, with an explicit allowance for unknowns.
Is historic review required?
It depends on the building. Surveyed or designated historic resources need Office of Historic Resources review rather than the standard path, and substantial alteration of a Historic-Cultural Monument requires Cultural Heritage review and CEQA review before permit approval. We check designation and permit history first.
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 Downtown homeowners:
- Cost to Build a Custom Home in Los Angeles (2026)
- Custom Home vs Remodel vs Rebuild in Los Angeles
- Whole Home Remodel vs Remodeling in Phases in Los Angeles
Nearby areas we serve: East Hollywood · Chinatown · Echo Park · Carthay · Elysian Valley · Beverly Grove
Region: All Central LA communities we serve · Everywhere we build