Los Angeles residents will soon see more affordable housing options, after a 112-unit affordable housing apartment complex was approved by the City Council. The apartment complex, La Prensa Libre Apartments, is expected to be developed over the course of three years, according to public documents.
Located at 200-224 East Washington Boulevard on 1.43 acres of land, the project will include the construction of a five-story, 66-foot tall mixed-use building, with 7,300 square feet of ground floor commercial space. With 112 units total, the building will include space for residents at varying incomes. Of these units, one would be a market rate manager’s unit, 10 would be classified as extremely low income, seven would be classified as very low income units, five would be reserved as low income units, and 89 would be set aside as moderate income units. In total, the building will have 36 three-bedroom units, 49 two-bedroom units and 27 one-bedroom units.
Residents will also be able to enjoy a variety of amenities, including a 1,280-square-foot lobby and mailroom on the first floor, and a business center, gym and community room on the second floor. The project also will offer residents 16,493 square feet of open space, which includes a 9,950-square-foot courtyard as well as private balconies attached to residential units. An at-grade parking garage will also allow for 75 parking spaces, with 60 set aside for residents and 15 for commercial use.
The project site, which sits on the corner of Washington Boulevard and Los Angeles Street was the former home to a car repair facility, three industrial buildings and an apartment complex. It is nearby other residential, commercial and retail properties, including Hirsh Apartments directly next door to the site. Several schools, including The Frida Kahlo High School and the Santee Education Complex are also within close proximity. Additionally, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Blue Line, an at-grade light rail line, is located along Washington Boulevard.
The project is a joint effort between AMCAL Multi-Housing Inc. and the Coalition for Responsible Community Development. AMCAL has been developing affordable, market-rate and student housing in California, Texas and Washington for the past 43 years. In California, AMCAL’s other affordable housing properties include Florence at 1616 Florence Avenue in Los Angeles, Las Terrazas, at 1176 West Boulevard in Colton, and Las Ventanas, at 1795 Long Beach Avenue, in Long Beach.
The Coalition for Responsible Community Development is a California-based nonprofit, with a focus on improving planning and development in South Los Angeles. Since its founding in 2005, the organization has been developing and operating rental housing for young adults, families, seniors, individuals with special needs and low-income households.
Neither AMCAL Multi-Housing or the Coalition for Responsible Community Development responded in time to comment on this story.
