affordable housing

Leasing applications are generally treated with more care than concert tickets that go to the first ten callers that happen to be listening in. Not this time.

Today, City Council finally moved to allow the 49-unit affordable and supportive housing project planned for the Metro-owned lot by nonprofit developer A Community of Friends (ACOF) at 1st and Lorena to proceed. The final project will be split between 24 affordable units targeting low-income veterans and their families and 24 units reserved for families experiencing homelessness (including 12 for families with disabilities). The project will have on-site case managers to serve residents, offer 10,000 square feet of retail space, and host community-serving amenities, including a fitness center and childcare services that will be open to the public.

Next Tuesday, the City Council will again revisit an appeal lodged against A Community of Friends regarding the joint development housing project slated for the lot at 1st and Lorena in Boyle Heights.

A nine-month rent strike comes to a close when tenants successfully negotiate new terms with owner B.J. Turner

Many of those speaking up in favor of the project Wednesday touched on how important it was that Metro had shifted gears and listened to the community three years ago. But they also wanted Metro to understand the agency would have to deepen its relationship with the community for the project to be truly successful.

Self Help Graphics to finally own its site, affordable housing approved for three sites, and funds allocated for improvements along key streets

The fact that the community has spent nearly 26 years waiting for this project to materialize is just one of many reasons that the County's vote to condemn the lots came as no surprise today.

The proposed project includes a six-story structure housing 180 affordable units, a public charter boarding school, a career technical education center, neighborhood-serving retail, community spaces, and a transit plaza.

A ten-year community-led planning effort paralleled the city's own process and shaped the final form of the South and Southeast community plans.