ELYSIAN VALLEY CUSTOM HOME BUILDER & GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Built With Intention. Quiet Streets Beside The River.
ELYSIAN VALLEY HOMES ARE BUILT DIFFERENTLY
Heart Construction is a general contractor serving Elysian Valley, also known as Frogtown, specializing in custom homes, full renovations, and cottage additions on compact river-edge lots. We work with homeowners, architects, engineers and designers through organized pre-construction, transparent budgeting and steady execution that keeps every decision clear.
Building beside the river means checking first.
Parcels in a mapped flood hazard zone fall under the Flood Hazard Management Ordinance, and LADBS routes them to the Bureau of Engineering. Parcels near the river may also carry the LA River Improvement Overlay. Not knowing which of these applies to your lot is the real worry, so we check before design begins.
Compact lots, older bungalows and neighbors who care about scale stack on top of that, so we design around the street's scale and sequence approvals early, which protects budget and schedule.
We guide the process so every decision feels informed, not reactive, and the founder takes your first call.
Most projects here are cottage additions and remodels, ADUs, and kitchen, bath and outdoor living upgrades tied to the yard. Whatever the scope, we bring the same structure and discipline we apply across 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 Fairfax, Echo Park, Hancock Park and beyond.
OUR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY ELYSIAN VALLEY 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 Elysian Valley
Flood-zone review and planning clearances set the pace in Elysian Valley. Routine permits through LADBS plan check typically take 2–6 months; projects that need Planning clearances or Bureau of Engineering review for flood hazard run 6–12 months. Construction of a custom home typically takes 10–16 months. The lever that protects your schedule is checking flood status and overlays before design, so no surprise review lands mid-permit.
What It Costs
Costs here reflect small lots, older houses, tight site access and possible flood-related foundation requirements. Older wiring and plumbing often need updating once walls are opened, and narrow streets slow material deliveries. Custom homes typically run $500–$850+ per sq ft; whole-home renovations $350–$650+ per sq ft; detached ADUs $250,000–$500,000+; pools $120,000–$340,000+. Soft costs — design, survey and flood elevation studies, permits — are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins.
Permits & Local Rules
LADBS issues your permit, after LA City Planning clearance. Flood hazard review through the Bureau of Engineering applies to mapped parcels, and foundation inspection requires approved elevation or flood-proofing certificates. The LA River Improvement Overlay and neighborhood height and coverage limits on some commercial-zoned riverfront parcels can also apply. There is no historic overlay here. We pull your parcel's zoning and overlay status first, so design decisions are made with the constraints known.
Where We Build in Elysian Valley
We build throughout Frogtown and the flat streets between the I-5 and the river, from Egret Park at the Riverside Drive entry to Rattlesnake Park off Fletcher Drive. Riverside blocks near Oso Park face more flood and overlay exposure than inland streets, so the review path and foundation scope can differ even a few blocks apart. 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 Elysian Valley
Extra approval near the LA River?
Possibly. Parcels in a mapped flood hazard zone fall under the Flood Hazard Management Ordinance, so LADBS routes them to the Bureau of Engineering. Parcels within roughly 2,500 feet of the river may carry the LA-RIO suffix. We check both before design so you know what applies.
How long do permits take here?
Routine LADBS plan check typically takes 2–6 months. Projects that need Planning clearances or flood hazard review run 6–12 months. Construction for a custom home then typically takes 10–16 months. Checking flood status and overlays first is the step that most protects your schedule. See our custom home build timeline guide for each phase.
Cost to build a home here?
Custom homes typically run $500–$850+ per sq ft. Small lots, older systems, tight access and flood-related foundation requirements push toward the upper end. Soft costs such as design, surveys and permits are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins.
Is my property in a flood zone?
It depends on the parcel. Mapped flood hazard zones fall under the Flood Hazard Management Ordinance, which adds Bureau of Engineering review and requires approved elevation or flood-proofing certificates at foundation inspection. We confirm your status in feasibility, before design, so any elevation requirements are planned and priced from the start.
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 Elysian Valley homeowners:
- ADU Los Angeles: Is It Right for Your Property?
- Custom Home vs Remodel vs Rebuild in Los Angeles
- Second Story vs Home Addition in Los Angeles: What Actually Works
Nearby areas we serve: Fairfax · Echo Park · Hancock Park · East Hollywood · Harvard Heights · Downtown
Region: All Central LA communities we serve · Everywhere we build