East L.A. Community Corporation and its development partners officially broke ground on the Sun Valley Senior Veterans Apartments, a $34.5-million project in the San Fernando Valley.

The project, located at 9041 N. Laurel Canyon Boulevard, is ELACC's largest affordable housing yet.  Plans call for a four-story building that would feature 88 one- and two-bedroom units reserved for senior incomes who make between 30 and 50 percent of the area median income.  Other project features would include a library, laundry facilities, a fitness center, a media room, and a computer lab.

The Sun Valley development will also provide on-site supportive services, including case management, benefits assistance and advocacy, substance use service, education service, employment services, medication management, and social and recreational activities.

Construction of the senior housing complex is beginning in the wake of a renewed focus on homelessness in the City of Los Angeles, with each member of the City Council committed to building a minimum of 222 units of permanent supportive housing in each of their districts.  The Sun Valley project, which is located in Councilmember Nury Martinez's district, will count toward that total.

The project team also includes New Directions for Veterans, Westport Construction, and YM Architects.