VERNON, CA—Meta Housing Corp. has broken ground on the city's first-ever private development, Village Vernon Park. The $12.8-million multifamily development, located at 4675 E. 52nd Drive, will have 45 affordable housing units targeted toward families. Meta Housing has partnered with non-profit Community Home Builders for this project.

“The City of Vernon selected Meta Housing as the developer for this project based on our deep expertise in developing affordable apartment communities, as well as our mission to build communities that enrich the lives of our residents," Chris Maffris, VP of Meta Housing, tells GlobeSt.com. "These factors aligned well with the city's goal of providing quality, service-enriched housing for workers in the County of Los Angeles. The City of Vernon had determined that this site was optimal for housing based on its proximity to neighborhood amenities, including parks, schools, bus stops and a grocery store.”

The property will have a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartment units, while the building will feature BBQ and picnic areas, an edible garden, children's play area and a computer room. The units will be available to reisdents earning 30% to 60% of the median income in Los Angeles County. Rental rates will range from $430 to $1,244. Developers anticipate completion in the summer 2015 and will build the property to meet LEED-Silver certified standards.

The facility will also aid the low-income residents with adult education classes that include job search assistance and financial literacy assistance and with health and wellness services, including blood pressure testing and a well-baby clinic. “We believe in the value of robust social service programs in all of our projects.  While affordable housing is extremely important in creating stability, additional services are essential to help enhance a family's life prospects," says Maffris. "Additionally, these services contribute indirectly to better property management by reducing turnover, decreasing maintenance costs, and freeing property managers from the burden of handling many personal issues among residents." 

Vernon is largely an industrial market that employees 55,000 workers; however, there are very few multifamily housing options in the area. This development seeks to change that by providing an affordable yet quality option. Meta Housing also teamed with California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, Bank of America, Federal Home Loan Bank San Francisco's Affordable Housing Program and the California Community Reinvestment Corp. to fund the project.

Meta Housing is known for building affordable housing throughout the Los Angeles area. Recently, the developer broke ground on a senior housing development in Compton. The $19.5-million development will provide and affordable option for residents over the age of 55.