A new development has brought permanent supportive housing to a major intersection in the Skid Row neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Developed by Mercy Housing California, 6th Street Place features 93 affordable residences plus a manager’s unit in an area with one of the highest concentrations of unsheltered homelessness in the country.
“Despite the challenges many of its residents have endured, Skid Row is home to a vibrant community of artists, activists, and service providers, and it is our hope that 6th Street Place will come to represent proud new beginnings for the people who call it home as well as their neighbors,” said Doug Shoemaker, president of Mercy Housing California. “Angelenos experiencing homelessness deserve dignified, permanent housing opportunities, and we are grateful to our partners for stepping up to help us meet this urgent need.”
The six-story community utilized modular construction. Apartments were assembled in an off-site factory and then stacked, bringing more predictability, cost efficiency, and time savings to the development program, according to developer Mercy Housing California.
The building was framed in a matter of weeks—a process that can stretch to months in traditional stick-built construction. On-site amenities include a lobby, recreational space, a community room, generous bike storage, property management and resident services offices, and a courtyard.
The development was funded by a mix of public and private sources, including the city of Los Angeles via voter-approved bond Measure HHH, the Los Angeles Housing Department, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), the Los Angeles County Development Authority, the California Department of Housing and Community Development, JPMorgan Chase, and the National Equity Fund.
On-site supportive services will be provided by The People Concern, one of the area’s largest social service agencies. Mercy Housing will provide on-site property management as well as resident services.
The building façade will soon be adorned with significant public art, beautifying the area while honoring the contributions of Skid Row’s creative community members. Work is underway to recreate the revered “Skid Row City Limit” mural, created by an artist group led by the late General Jeff Page. When discussing plans for the mural, Mercy Housing California facilitated meetings with artists and activists who hold deep connections in the Skid Row community and enlisted some of the same local artists who had partnered with General Jeff on the mural to repaint it in its original location after the close of construction. Additionally, a prominent front-facing wall will soon feature a projected scroll showing artworks created by 6th Street Place residents and their neighbors to be enjoyed by passersby every evening.
The community has been recognized with a Downtown Los Angeles Rose Award for permanent supportive housing from the Downtown Breakfast Club. It is the first of three Los Angeles County developments Mercy Housing California is scheduled to unveil in 2024. Heritage Gardens, a senior community in Long Beach, will open its doors this summer and will be followed by 3552 Whittier Boulevard, another permanent supportive housing community built using modular construction in Boyle Heights.
