EAH Housing will soon be replacing a public parking structure in downtown Santa Monica with a mixed-use affordable housing project, after the development group was selected by the City. At a recent meeting, the Santa Monica City Council reviewed proposals from seven developers before selecting EAH for their commitment to affordable housing. The company will now work with the city to negotiate terms and conditions for the development of the City-owned land.
“Our region suffers from a dearth of affordable housing and we in Santa Monica are committed to improving the crisis and getting people into housing that can be the foundation for stability,” said Mayor Sue Himmelrich in a statement following the meeting. “We aren’t waiting for private development to lead the way. We are leading by making available a precious resource that makes it possible – land. This is a project that addresses the biggest needs of the day, including homelessness, affordability, and equity, and reflects our community’s values.”
EAH proposed two preliminary options for the project site, which is located at 1318-1320 4th Street. One proposal offers 150 units and the other offers 120. However, both would include 50 permanent supportive units, a 19,600 square-foot grocery store at the ground-floor level and 1,630 square feet set aside for nonprofit use.
Preliminary renderings from VTBS Architects also show two levels of subterranean parking as well as various amenities, including a fitness center and rooftop terrace.
In addition to VTBS Architects, EAH would work with local social service agency The People Concern and AMJ Construction Management to complete the project.
The project site is located near a wide variety of retail, dining and entertainment amenities, with the Third Street Promenade within walking distance.The building would also be within walking distance of Santa Monica Boulevard and the Santa Monica Pier. According to Rentcafe, rental rates in the area typically average $3,740 per month for market rate apartments.
EAH recently completed another housing project in Santa Monica. The Magnolia Villas, which is located at 1445-1453 10th Street, opened at the end of 2021 and provides 40 residential units for those 62 and older. An additional 44-unit supportive housing project, The Laurel, is also being planned at 1413 Michigan Avenue, and is likely to be completed in 2023.
The affordable housing developer was founded in 1968 and has since delivered projects across the state as well as in Hawaii. In total, the company has developed and acquired 98 properties with more than 7,900 residences. In Southern California, EAH has more than 1,200 apartment units under property management and an additional 50 apartment communities under construction.
