LATEST NEWS

Santa Monica, CA – September 27, 2018) Pico Robertson Senior Community Apartments, a new, 48-unit senior affordable housing development located at 8862-8876 W. Pico Boulevard in Los Angeles will soon be breaking ground. The development is a project of Mercy Housing of California.

When completed, the six-story building will offer a mix of studio and one-bedroom apartments reserved for seniors with incomes ranging from 30 to 60 percent of the area median income.  An underground, 73-car public parking garage will serve tenants and nearby businesses.

“KFA has a long history of designing successful affordable housing. Our design team viewed Mercy Pico Robertson as an opportunity to provide a healthy and social environment for seniors, with varied spaces that foster different levels of privacy and community interaction.” said KFA Associate, Kristyn Cosgrove, AIA. “We incorporated an exterior stair at the center of the project that adds a colorful accent and encourages residents to use the stairs by making the experience easy, visible and fun,” she added.

The mid-rise structure will incorporate open-space amenities such as a central courtyard, a community room, an exercise room, and a rooftop garden.  The building makes use of open corridors to allow for natural ventilation and light into its interior. A large courtyard at the third-floor level will provide a central gathering space, surrounded by a community room, supportive services offices and an exercise room. Smaller terraces throughout the project offer quieter seating nooks. A roof deck will offer community garden planters and informal seating. Open corridors take advantage of natural ventilation and light, while recessed entry doors in alcoves provide a sense of identity for each unit.

Mercy Housing California is the largest regional division of Mercy Housing, Inc. With offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento, Mercy Housing California offers affordable low-income housing programs and Resident Services.

SP7, A project of the Skid Row Housing Trust, Affordable Housing for Homeless Residents and Veterans in Downtown Los Angeles

(Santa Monica, CA – September 27, 2018) KFA is pleased to announce the groundbreaking for SP7, a KFA-designed, affordable housing project named for its location at the corner of 7th and San Pedro Streets in Downtown Los Angeles. The 43,690-square-foot, seven-story building will provide a total of 81 affordable, permanent supportive housing units for homeless and chronically homeless individuals plus one manager’s unit. The developer is the Skid Row Housing Trust.

“We are very pleased to work with the Skid Row Housing Trust, not only for its invaluable contributions to helping the homeless, but also for its commitment to fostering innovative and engaging architecture. SP7 will be a striking addition to the neighborhood,” said KFA Associate Jaime Olmos, AIA. “Its design will foster healthy living and socializing, with space for residents to connect and two community gardens to encourage residents’ participation in healthy food choices,” he added. KFA is a frequent collaborator with Skid Row Housing Trust.

The project has a sleek, contemporary look with several shared roof decks and courtyards. SP7’s ground-level street façade is a key component in creating connection to the neighborhood and a rewarding pedestrian experience. Glazing provides a transparency on both street frontages, and there is a clear entry to the community room for open events and programs. Pedestrians can look through the lobby and glimpse the green garden beyond. A variety of open spaces throughout the project will support gatherings of varying sizes. Several patios, roof decks and gardens are grouped with programmed spaces such as community rooms, laundry rooms, multi-purpose rooms and recreation spaces, all coming together to create a holistic living experience.

Reserved for homeless residents and veterans, SP7 will offer a range of supportive services, including on-site case managers, connections to service organizations, and “therapeutic community spaces.” Each unit will be equipped with bedroom and living room furnishings and appliances. Residents will have access to case management and service providers on the ground floor, laundry facilities, bicycle storage, and an outdoor courtyard. Energy-efficient features will achieve LEED certification for the development.