Courtesy photo
Wave Staff Report
BOYLE HEIGHTS — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority celebrated the completion of Lorena Plaza, a mixed-use housing development for low-income households, with half the apartments prioritized for veterans who are low income or experiencing homelessness, April 11.
Lorena Plaza is a four-story apartment building featuring 48 income-restricted homes above 7,500 square feet of community serving retail space. It is located just north of the E Line Indiana Street Station.
“Projects like Lorena Plaza exemplify a viable path to providing Angelenos with stable housing and opportunities,” county Supervisor Hilda Solis said at the ceremonies marking the project’s completion.
As chair of the MTA Board of Directors two years ago, Solis oversaw the start of the joint development program with the goal of creating 10,000 housing units on MTA-owned land by 2031.
“Today, we celebrate not only one of many new affordable housing projects in the First District but also the collaboration of partners like A Community of Friends, who are crucial in working together to create meaningful solutions to housing challenges in Boyle Heights and throughout Los Angeles County.”
A Community of Friends is one of the leading nonprofit permanent supportive housing developers in Southern California that collaborated with the MTA on the Lorena Plaza project.
“A Community of Friends is thrilled to see the completion of Lorena Plaza, a permanent supportive housing community that we have worked so long to bring to fruition,” said Dora Leong Gallo, president and CEO of the organization. “We thank our many partners — from the community, our lenders, contractors, city and county partners, and MTA — for helping us reach this milestone.”
Lorena Plaza offers studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments to families earning between 30% and 50% of the area median income. Thirty-two of the apartments are set aside as supportive housing for households earning up to 30% of the area median income, while the remaining 16 apartments are set aside for households earning up to 50% of the area median.
In addition to housing, Lorena Plaza will provide supportive services including case management, life skills classes, family and children’s services, and substance use recovery assistance to its tenants. Residential amenities include on-site offices for management and service providers, on-site laundry, a community room, a children’s play area and an outdoor courtyard.
“I remember being here when this was a construction site and had been unable to break ground for more than 15 years because of red tape,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “By taking bold action, we broke away from the old ways of doing things and replaced it with a new approach focused on solutions, results, and speed. I am glad to be here today to celebrate the opening of Lorena Plaza, which will serve veterans and families.”
“We’re excited to welcome 48 families to new transit-connected homes at Lorena Plaza,” said Stephanie Wiggins, CEO of the MTA. “Housing and transportation are the two biggest household expenses for families, so by building affordable housing near transit through our joint development program, we are giving a big hand to families who need it most. The MTA is proud to do all we can to ease the housing shortage in L.A. County and make this region a more affordable, vibrant and sustainable place to live.”
Other officials in attendance were U.S. Rep. Jimmy Gomez; Los Angeles City Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado; Community of Friends Board Chair Allen Freeman; and Bank of America Merrill Lynch Senior Vice President Garrett Gin.
