Before a new six-story rental development even opened in San Pedro, there were more than 4,300 applications for the 90 apartments.
Among the new families moving in are some 100 children.
“The county has a shortfall of more than 500,000 units of affordable and lower income” units, said Ben Winter, senior vice president of the nonprofit developer Linc Housing. “There’s a huge need and there’s certainly no shortage of need in the South Bay or San Pedro.”
Dignitaries, government officials and community members turned out Thursday, Oct 26, for the formal opening celebration for the “456 West.” Units in the building, 456 W. Ninth St., were all spoken for and most of the residents had moved in by the time it formally opened this week. Residents began arriving in August. Construction began in February 2021.
The development was created and built by the nonprofit Linc Housing, which is based in Long Beach; National CORE, a nonprofit affordable housing developer; and Los Angeles city. The city has pressed for more housing as a way to address both homelessness and high rental costs.
But 456 West, built on what was a former city parking lot between Ninth and Eighth streets, just east of Pacific Avenue and near Mesa Street, is in the category of a federal affordable housing structure. It is not a supportive housing development, which specifically provides units for those coming out of homelessness.
Two other projects by the same developer — SagePoint in Wilmington, with 56 affordable and supportive homes for seniors coming out of homelessness, and Cadence in Watts ,with 64 new homes for those experiencing homelessness — are geared more toward those needs.
The 465 West project, however, is a way to intervene before families wind up without a roof over their heads, Winter said.
“Affordability is one of the factors behind homelessness,” he said in a telephone interview before the grand opening.
Rents at 456 West will be kept at about 30% of the residents’ income, with adjustments considered annually.
The Hope Through Housing Foundation will provide on-site services, including programs for health and self-sufficiency. A professional service coordinator, along with local community partners, will arrange programs to address resident health, parenting skills, employment, money management, exercise, nutrition and youth development issues.
The units are all electric, Winter said, to coincide with the city’s provision that all future developments should be electric to address climate change.
Parking is available on-site and includes replacement spaces for the 53 spots taken from the parking lot that formally was on the property.
“Everyone deserves to have a safe, comfortable place to lay their head at night,” said Los Angeles Councilmember Tim McOsker. “I’m proud that today we’re providing that with these 91 units in the Harbor Area.”
One of the new residents, Gina, according to materials provided by the developer, came from a domestic violence situation that put her and her 9-year-old son in an emergency shelter for 30 days, followed by six months in interim housing, where they had no kitchen or bathroom of their own. She used money she’d saved to apply for one of the apartments at 456 West and was among other new residents attending the opening ceremony.
The building includes five studio, 27 one-bedroom, 35 two-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom apartments. A 91st two-bedroom apartment unit is set aside for an on-site manager.
It also has a community room with computer and kitchen areas, a gym, and bike storage. Outdoor spaces include play areas, a picnic terrance and a community lawn. There is also 4,900 square feet of ground floor commercial space.
“We know that accessibly housing is just the first step in tackling our crisis of affordable housing,” Michael Ruane, president of National CORE, said at the Thursday event. “It’s the mix of resident services coupled with high-quality homes that allows residents to achieve and maintain lasting stability, safety and security. We’re committed to offering high-quality on-site services to ensure that residents break the cycle of generational poverty while fostering a sense of community.”