Brooks + Scarpa Designed Affordable Housing Breaks Ground

Image credit: Skid Row Housing Trust

According to a Facebook post from earlier this month, the Skid Row Housing Trust has broken ground on the Six Apartments, a new 52-unit affordable housing complex in the Westlake neighborhood.  Keeping in trend with several of SRHT's other recent developments, the project packs quite a bit of architectural punch.  Designed by Brooks + Scarpa Architects, renderings portray a white hued low-rise structure, featuring a street facing urban window and lush ground level landscaping.  Located at 811 South Carondolet Street, the wood-framed apartments would rise five-stories above a first floor parking garage.  A document from the California State Treasurer's Office indicates that the Six would feature a mixture of studio and one bedroom units.  The project, which will cater to veterans and chronically homeless persons, is scheduled for full occupancy in October 2015.

Although most of their portfolio consists of adaptive reuse projects, SRHT has ventured into ground up construction in recent years.  The Downtown-based nonprofit frequently collaborates with architect Michael Maltzan, with previous efforts including the critically acclaimed Star Apartments.  SRHT is also in the midst of construction on the New Pershing Hotel Apartments, a project which converts one of Downtown Los Angeles' last remaining Victorian structures into 69 units of affordable housing.

New Pershing Apartments Begin to Take Form

More than one year after plans were announced to convert Downtown's Pershing Hotel into affordable housing, little remains of the 125 year old structure beyond its Victorian facade.  The approximately $15 million project, developed by the Skid Row Housing Trust, will eventually consist of 69 studio and one bedroom units, ranging from 350 - 500 square feet.  Designed by Killefer Flammang Architects, the New Pershing Hotel Apartments will rise five stories, with upper floors set back from the historic facade.  The desperately needed affordable housing complex will also activate its ground level with retail space and social service offices.  Residential amenities include a landscaped central courtyard and a community room with a kitchen.  Information displayed by the website of contractor Westport Construction indicates that the apartments are scheduled to open their doors this November.  The project is located opposite 5th Street from the New Genesis Apartments, another collaboration between KFA and SRHT which opened in 2012.

Image credit: Killefer Flammang Architects via Westport Construction Inc.