Construction ramps up for Little Tokyo affordable housing at 232 Judge John Aiso St.

A large concrete pour is the latest milestone in the construction of Go for Broke Plaza and the First Street North Residences, a mixed-use affordable housing complex from Little Tokyo Service Center.

The project, which replaced a city parking lot just north of the Japanese American National Museum at 232 Judge John Aiso Street, will include 248 studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments reserved for households earning between 30 and 80 percent of the Los Angeles area median income level. Of that total, plans call for 80 units of permanent supportive housing for veterans, who would be able to receive care at a VA facility which sits north across Temple Street.

Rendering of Go For Broke Plaza and First Street North ResidencesLittle Tokyo Service Center

In addition to housing, the project will create a permanent home for the Go For Broke National Education Center, which will have an exhibit focused on the experiences of Japanese-American soldiers during World War II within the building. The new construction frames the existing Go For Broke monument, which pays tribute to the soldiers of the 100th/442nd Regimental combat Team and the Military Intelligence Service, and will sit at the center of the complex's courtyard. "Go For Broke" served as the regiment's motto.

Approximately 40,000 square feet of street-level commercial space is planned within the development, which LTSC hopes to lease to legacy Little Tokyo small businesses and organizations. This comes following the eviction of several of local mainstays, most notably Suehiro Cafe.

View looking southwestGary Leonard

Carde Ten is designing contemporary low-rise development, which will consist of two six-story buildings.

The First Street North site is one of several public properties in Little Tokyo which are likely to be up for redevelopment in the coming years, including the former home of Parker Center, the Mangrove property across Alameda Street and the land surrounding the Little Tokyo/Arts District subway station.

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