Last month, West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation opened the doors of Blue Hibiscus, a new affordable apartment building catering to low-income households with special needs.  

The $12.9-million project, located just off of Santa Monica Boulevard at 1125 N. Detroit Street, consists of a four-story structure containing 22 residential units.  Each apartment comes with energy-efficient appliances and a private balcony, and is designed to be functional for people with and without mobility impairments.  The property offers on-site services through the Los Angeles LGBT Center and other social service agencies, with on-site coordinators to provide assessments and referrals for residents.

KFA Architecture designed the building in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, with common amenities such as a roof deck, a garden, a community room, a fitness center, and a laundry facility.

The project, which was built by Dreyfuss Construction, is expected to attain LEED for Homes Platinium Certification for energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.  According to the project’s sustainability consultant, Green Dinosaur, it incorporates water conservation features such as drought-tolerant landscaping and high-efficiency plumbing fixtures.  The building also includes energy conservation features -such as a solar thermal hot water system - and air quality features -such as a ventilation system designed to bring in fresh air while exhausting stale air out of each unit.  Waste management at Blue Hibiscus is also carefully managed, and the project is located north of several local and express bus lines running along Santa Monica Boulevard.

WHCHC is currently in construction or predevelopment for a handful of other affordable housing projects across Southern California, including the 93-unit Westmore Linden apartments in Pico-Union and a 22-unit complex in Rampart Village.