By Jonathan Friedman
Associate Editor

February 17, 2016 -- A spot of nothingness for more than two decades on Pico Boulevard near the Santa Monica city line will soon be filled with a building featuring office and retail.

The Planning Commission will vote on finalizing the project at its meeting on Wednesday.

Owner Ronald Udall received approval from the City last month to build a two-story, 4,300-square-foot structure on the property located between Players Club Golf & Fitness and an office building.

Since the site is located in a commercial district, Udall needs a conditional-use permit (CUP) from the commission to include office space in the building.

The proposal calls for 3,200 square feet of office space. The remainder of the building will feature “small-scale general retail” on the first floor. Parking will be provided in the back with 14 spaces.

Thirteen of the parking spaces will be provided through interesting means, according to the staff report.

There will be “a mechanical lift enclosure, including three three-car parking lifts and two two-car lifts, which will be served by a valet service at all times during business hours.”

This property has been vacant since 1993, when a single-family home and garage were demolished.

Also on the commission’s agenda is a proposal for a two-story, three-unit condominium at 1927 19th Street, which is located between Pico Boulevard and Delaware Avenue.

The actual project is not before the commission, but rather the planning panel is being asked to vote on a “vesting tentative parcel map” that would allow for the development on the property.

A project proposal will be submitted to the City later and likely will not need to go before the commission for approval. Currently on the property are three detached units under rent control.

The ownership of the property, at least two people involved in an entity going by the name TWD 19th Street LP, does not want the new units to be under rent control.

There are some options for the ownership on how to do this, but it must go through the Rent Control Board.

Also, since the existing structures were built more than 40 years ago (in 1922), the Landmarks Commission must review the project before any demolition permit can be issued.