A ceremony held last week by Bridge Housing and the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles marked the opening of Kalmia Rose, the latest component of the $1-billion Jordan Downs redevelopment in Watts. 

“As the seventh phase of redevelopment at Jordan Downs, Kalmia Rose adds 76 new homes to the largest affordable housing redevelopment project in Los Angeles history," Castro Ramirez said. "Alongside new retail shops that create jobs and spur local economic growth, this $54 million investment is part of a broader transformation that is revitalizing not just Jordan Downs, but the community of Watts as a whole. I’m incredibly proud of this progress, and deeply grateful to the residents of this community and to our federal, state, local, and private partners who share our commitment to expanding access to affordable housing and building pathways to stability and long-term success.”

Ribbon cutting for Kalmia RoseBridge Housing Corp.

The project, which is located at 9704 and 9808 S. Kalmia Street, includes a total of 76 one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments, including 61 units reserved for households earning between 30 and 60 percent of the area median income level, 14 market-rate units, and one manager's apartment. Over half of the new homes serve as replacement housing for existing Jordan Downs residents. 

The new construction is located one block from the Jordan downs Plaza retail center on Century Boulevard, and consists of three- and four-story buildings surrounding landscaped courtyards. Other components of the project include courtyard decks, a community room, and laundry facilities.

Kalmia Rose is the third project completed by Bridge Housing at Jordan Downs, following the 115-unit Cedar Grove apartments and the 80-unit Park Place apartments. Bridge and HACLA have plans for additional projects within the public housing complex.

Interior of Kalmia RoseBridge Housing Corp.

The Jordan Downs redevelopment, under construction since 2018, is led by a team that includes HACLA, Bridge Housing, and the Michael's Organization. Existing structures containing 700 homes from the 1940s are gradually being replaced with ground-up buildings that when complete will consist of 1,500 homes and 115,000 square feet of commercial space. Plans also call for nine acres of open space.

Other members of the project team include architecture firm KTGY, Portrait Construction, and service provider El Nido Family Centers.

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