LA Metro’s plan to use land near train stations for affordable housing took root on Tuesday, June 18, with the opening of the La Veranda apartment complex in Boyle Heights, located one-quarter mile north of Metro E Line’s Soto Station.
Metro owned the land which it leased to developer Adobe Communities at a $2.7 million discount.
Community member, Leticia Andrade, speaks to the audience during the dedication ceremony. Supervisor Hilda Solis. who spoke via video, and Mayor Karen Bass joined local leaders to recognize the opening of a housing development that serves formerly unhoused Angelenos and those at risk of falling into homelessness on Metro-owned property at the La Veranda dedication ceremony in Boyle Heights on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Mayor Karen Bass joined local leaders to recognize the opening of a housing development that serves formerly unhoused Angelenos and those at risk of falling into homelessness on Metro-owned property at the La Veranda dedication ceremony in Boyle Heights on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Mayor Karen Bass joined local leaders to recognize the opening of a housing development that serves formerly unhoused Angelenos and those at risk of falling into homelessness on Metro-owned property at the La Veranda dedication ceremony in Boyle Heights on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Billy La Chappelle, a La Veranda resident and speaker, listens to another speaker during the dedication ceremony. Mayor Karen Bass joined local leaders to recognize the opening of a housing development that serves formerly unhoused Angelenos and those at risk of falling into homelessness on Metro-owned property at the La Veranda dedication ceremony in Boyle Heights on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Mayor Karen Bass and Ray Sosa, chief planning officer with LA Metro, joined local leaders to recognize the opening of a housing development that serves formerly unhoused Angelenos and those at risk of falling into homelessness on Metro-owned property at the La Veranda dedication ceremony in Boyle Heights on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Mayor Karen Bass joined local leaders to recognize the opening of a housing development that serves formerly unhoused Angelenos and those at risk of falling into homelessness on Metro-owned property at the La Veranda dedication ceremony in Boyle Heights on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. Joining the Mayor during the ribbon cutting, were (l-r) Sindy Spivak, Nkechi Odu, Holly Benson, Leticia Andrade, Billy La Chappelle, Ray Sosa and Dr. Ryan Smith.(Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The complex has 76 units including 38 units that will be leased out as permanent, supportive homes by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. The other 38 were affordable units for those residents whose income is within 20% to 50% of the area median income.
About 3,000 applications were received for 38 units, showing the tremendous need for low- and moderate-income housing in Los Angeles County.
The project used $9 million from Los Angeles Prop. HHH funds to finance 15% of the cost, with other funds from state grants and L.A.’s Housing Authority.
“La Veranda is an example of how we can blend much-needed affordable housing and state-of-the-art transportation resources in one space,” said L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis and Metro board member, who added, “This is the beginning of a new era.”
The one, two, and three-bedroom units are part of a complex with a children’s play area, a community room, EV chargers and services on site from St. Joseph Center to help families recover from homelessness, Adobe officials said. Leticia Andrade, a community member, said projects like this help the community to be “occupiers and not gentrifiers.”
