[From Left to Right] Mee Semcken,
Consultant; Aaron Mandel, SVP of Meta
Housing; Graham Espley-Jones, President of Western Community Housing; Eric
Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles; Kasey Burke, President of Meta Housing; Roy
Faerber, Boston Financial Investment Management; Eugene Lee, Chief of State of
California Department of Housing and Community Development; at the recent groundbreaking
event for the El Segundo Apartments and 127th Street Apartments.
LOS ANGELES, CA – Meta
Housing Corporation has broken ground on two affordable apartment communities
in Los Angeles, including 127th Street Apartments, an 85-unit apartment
community for homeless or chronically homeless individuals, and El Segundo
Boulevard Apartments, a 75-unit apartment community for veterans and their
families.
“Homelessness in Los
Angeles has drastically increased over the last several years,” says Kasey Burke, President of Meta Housing
Corporation. “An estimated 254,000 men, women and children experience
homelessness in this city during some part of the year, and ten percent of LA’s
homeless population is comprised of U.S. veterans. This is a challenge that must be addressed,
and new affordable housing is the right place to start.”
Burke explains that the
rising cost of living in Los Angeles and the lack of affordable housing options
continues to be a challenge for many local families.
“These new developments
will fill a deep void in the community by helping individuals and families end
a life on the streets and instead enjoy a safe, quality place to live,” says
Burke. “By replacing a blighted vacant lot with high-quality housing that integrates
strong supportive services, we are enriching the lives of residents, as well as
the local community.”
Financing for the projects
was provided by Chase, Boston Financial Investment Management, the California
Community Reinvestment Corporation (CCRC), Housing and Community Development
(HCD), Department of Mental Health/California Housing Finance Agency (DMH and
CalHFA), Los Angeles Housing & Community Investment Department (HCIDLA),
Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), and the Department of
Health Services (DHS).
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[From Left to Right] Aaron Mandel, SVP of Meta Housing; Kasey Burke, President of Meta Housing; Terry Boykins, Deputy Director of Department of Mental Health; Mark Ridley-Thomas, Supervisor, County of Los Angeles; Joe Buscaino, Councilman of 15th District of the City of Los Angeles; Mee Semcken, Consultant; and Graham Espley-Jones, President of Western Community Housing, at the recent groundbreaking event for the El Segundo Apartments and 127th Street Apartments. |
The two apartment
communities are being developed side by side between El Segundo Boulevard and
127th Street.
In addition, both
communities will feature the latest in green building and sustainable features,
according to Aaron Mandel, a Senior
Vice President with Meta Housing.
“Sustainability is a
primary focus for Meta,” Mandel says.
“We continue to identify innovative ways to deliver cost savings while
reducing the environmental footprint of our properties.”
Mandel explains that El
Segundo Boulevard Apartments will feature storm water filtration planters that
clean, treat and recycle all water than lands on the site and building. The community will also boast a cool roof
with a high solar reflectance value.
 |
| Kasey Burke |
In addition to sustainable
features, each of these apartment communities will feature a variety of
amenities and community spaces that encourage social interaction and
engagement.
“It’s important that our
residents don’t just live in our properties, but also thrive there,” says
Mandel. “For this reason, we design
communities with thoughtful spaces that encourage collaboration, and we offer
supportive services that enhance the quality of life of our residents, and the
surrounding neighborhood.”
The El Segundo and 127th
apartment communities will feature large community spaces including clubhouses,
classrooms, and technology centers for educational training. 127th Street
Apartments will also feature a large teaching kitchen for cooking classes and
communal dining. El Segundo Boulevard Apartments will feature bicycle storage
rooms and an outdoor courtyard.
The apartment communities
will be located at 550 West 127th Street and 535-611 West El Segundo Boulevard
in Los Angeles, California.
For a complete copy of the company’s news release,
please contact:
Elisabeth Manville/Lexi
Astfalk
Brower, Miller & Cole
(949) 955-7940
