After plans were first submitted in 2018, a 194-unit affordable housing project is moving forward in Long Beach. According to a recent determination notice from the City, the project is being planned by a local development entity associated with the Richard Todd Family and is being designed by the Architects Collective.
The project will be located at 2400-2490 Long Beach Boulevard. While no official timeline has been announced, the completed project would stand five stories and would also include 5,622 square-feet of commercial retail space.
Although Architects Collective did not respond to requests for comment, renderings from the Los Angeles-based architecture firm depict a contemporary style building with a white exterior mixed with added wood and metal detailing. Renderings for the project also show several open space amenities, such as private balconies attached to some units and a rooftop deck with seating areas.
The project will take shape on the site of a currently underutilized parking lot in Long Beach’s Midway District. Nearby are several hospitals, including Long Beach Medical Center, College Medical Center and Pacific Medical Center. Future tenants will also have easy access to a number of retail assets, such as Albertsons, CVS and McDonald’s.
Overall, Long Beach has seen a number of affordable housing projects pop up over the last several years. Nearby, The Long Beach Community Investment Company is working to develop The Spark at Midtown. The 95-unit supportive and affordable housing development broke ground in July and is located at 1900 Long Beach Boulevard. An additional project by BRIDGE Housing also broke ground recently, with plans to be completed by the end of 2023. Named Anaheim & Walnut for its location at the two streets, the completed development will feature 88 residential units as well as a variety of support services.
Reports from the City show that homelessness is a major issue in Long Beach, with 2,034 unhoused people as of most recent data in 2020. This is a seven percent increase from the prior year’s 1,894 number of unhoused people. At the same time, Rentcafe reports that current rental rates in Long Beach average $2,533 per month. In comparison, the median household income in Long Beach is $66,410 per year.
