WEST ADAMS CUSTOM HOME BUILDER & GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Built With Intention. Craftsman Streets, Made To Last.
WEST ADAMS HOMES ARE BUILT DIFFERENTLY
Heart Construction is a general contractor serving West Adams, specializing in custom homes, full renovations, and period restorations of century-old Craftsman and Victorian houses. We work with homeowners, architects, engineers and designers through organized pre-construction, transparent budgeting and steady execution from the first walkthrough.
The house was here first.
Most exterior work on a contributing home in a Historic Preservation Overlay Zone needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from City Planning before LADBS will issue a permit. That review is real, so we pre-review with the Office of Historic Resources planner before we draw.
Behind the facade, 100-year-old framing, foundations and wiring hide surprises, and 5,000 sq ft lots push growth to the rear or into the garage. The City's ADU rules are also changing, so sequencing matters.
We guide the process so every decision feels informed, not reactive — and the original details stay.
Our work here runs from period restorations and full remodels to garage conversions, detached ADUs and kitchen and bath updates behind untouched facades. We bring the same structure and discipline we apply across the 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 Westmont, Watts, Willowbrook and beyond.
OUR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY WEST ADAMS 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 West Adams
Pace in West Adams is set by HPOZ clearance, which comes before LADBS will issue a permit. Routine permitting runs 2–6 months; work that needs HPOZ Board review for street-visible changes runs 6–12 months. Construction of a custom home takes 10–16 months. The lever that protects your schedule is settling contributing status and design compatibility before plans are finished, so review runs once, not twice.
What It Costs
Costs here sit where they do because century-old structures need foundation and systems work beneath the finishes, and HPOZ-compatible materials and salvaged details cost more than off-the-shelf replacements. 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, engineering, permits — are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins.
Permits & Local Rules
LADBS issues the permit, but in an HPOZ, City Planning and the Office of Historic Resources clear it first. Exterior work on a contributing home needs a Certificate of Appropriateness; new construction on a non-contributing lot needs a Certificate of Compatibility. Like-for-like work, such as a matching re-roof, can clear as Conforming Work, and interiors are not regulated. We sequence all of this from feasibility so design starts with the constraints known.
Where We Build in West Adams
Wellington Square, Fairview Heights, West Adams Heights, across flat, gridded streets near Expo/La Brea, La Cienega/Jefferson and Vineyard Recreation Center. HPOZ blocks such as West Adams Terrace review every exterior change, while Fairview Heights blocks near La Brea may fall outside an HPOZ and follow the standard LADBS path. 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 West Adams
Do I need HPOZ approval?
If your house is a contributing structure in an HPOZ, significant exterior work such as replacing windows or adding on needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from City Planning in addition to the LADBS building permit. New construction or demolition on a non-contributing lot needs a Certificate of Compatibility. We confirm your status before design begins.
How long does HPOZ review add?
Routine permitting runs 2–6 months, while LADBS plan check plus HPOZ Board review for street-visible work runs 6–12 months. Resolving contributing status and design compatibility before plans are finished lets the reviews run once rather than twice, which is the biggest protection for your schedule.
Cost to build in West Adams?
Custom homes typically run $550–$900+ per sq ft. The upper end reflects foundation and systems work in century-old structures and HPOZ-compatible materials. Soft costs — design, engineering, permits — are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins.
Can I build an ADU in an HPOZ?
Often yes. We sequence the ADU or garage conversion as a ministerial LADBS filing, with HPOZ design compatibility handled in the drawings. The City is updating its ADU Ordinance under Missing Middle LA, so we design to the rules in effect at filing. See what your property actually supports before budgeting.
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 West Adams 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: Westmont · Watts · Willowbrook · View Park-Windsor Hills · Adams-Normandie · Vermont-Slauson
Region: All South LA communities we serve · Everywhere we build