Construction Begins on Santa Monica Affordable Housing Project
EAH Housing and the City of Santa Monica expect the 58-unit community to be completed in late 2023.
SANTA MONICA, CA – Nonprofit housing development and management organization EAH Housing, along with Santa Monica community stakeholders, have commenced construction on a 58-unit affordable and supportive housing apartment community in Santa Monica, CA.
The four-story community, The Laurel, will offer 57 studio apartments for individuals between 30% and 50% of area median income, and it will also offer a manager’s unit.
“While demand for affordable housing far exceeds supply, this project will help make a dent in Santa Monica’s affordability crisis,” says Laura Hall, president and CEO of EAH Housing. “The project’s many stakeholders worked tirelessly together to create a housing solution compassionately tailored to the unique needs of homeless individuals.”
Located at 1413 Michigan Ave., the community will feature a laundry facility on each floor, a common area deck on the 3rd and 4th floors, 12 parking spaces and 800 square feet of community space for resident use. Designed by Los Angeles-based architecture firm KFA, The Laurel will surround a landscaped courtyard, and its second-floor patio and third-floor deck will face inward toward the courtyard.
In addition to the new build, the nearby vacant cultural landmark Santa Monica Nikkei Hall will be restored and incorporated into the project as community use space. The building’s windows, entry porch and woodwork will be preserved during the restoration process, and a Japanese garden will also be restored.
Slated for completion in late 2023, the project’s total development cost is projected at $37.3 million.
“The Santa Monica city council is committed to the production of much needed permanent supportive housing,” states Mayor Sue Himmelrich. “We look forward to the day when residents fill these apartments, which we partially funded through a contribution from the city’s Housing Trust Fund.”
The City of Santa Monica assisting in purchasing the site through the city’s Housing Trust Fund. Financing sources for the development include federal tax credits, state funding and the City of Santa Monica.
Located near a variety of amenities, jobs and services, The Laurel will additionally partner with social services provider the People’s Concern to provide supportive services to those facing homelessness and domestic violence.