Non-profit homebuilder Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (Habitat LA) is nearing completion on a new residential development in the City of Lynwood.  The project, located at 3305 Magnolia Avenue, consists of new constructed single-family dwellings as well as renovation of several nearby houses, a church and commercial buildings.

"We are excited that our seven homes on Magnolia Avenue are nearing completion and would like to express our gratitude to all of our volunteers, sponsors and the City of Lynwood who have made this development possible," said Erin Rank, Habitat LA President and Chief Executive Officer.  "Habitat LA designated Lynwood as a Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative focus community in 2011 in an effort to find creative solutions for improving the city through affordable housing, home repair and community engagement opportunities."

Each of Magnolia's seven homes offers three bedrooms and dedicated parking accommodations.  The late architect Michael Graves, a long-standing advocate of housing for the disabled, worked with his firm Michael Graves & Associates to design one of the houses.  The one-story structure includes a variety of advanced accessiblity features.

The Magnolia development is a product of Habitat LA's ongoing collaboration with the City of Lynwood, which has struggled to provide an adequate supply of affordable housing for its low income residents.  Although the recent elimination of California's community redevelopment agencies has cut off a vital funding source for these types of projects, their partnership has nonetheless yielded significant results.  Over the past two decades, Habitat LA has invested nearly $24 million throughout the city, allowing for the construction and rehabilitation of more than 80 homes.

The project broke ground during Habitat LA's 2013 Hollywood Build-A-Thon, and has thus benefited from the support of numerous figures in the entertainment industry.  Notably, cast members of the Showtime series House of Lies - including actors Don Cheadle, Glynn Turman and Donis Leonard, Jr. - participated in construction activities.

Habitat LA's other recent efforts include the 11th annual installment of Power Women, Power Tools.  The event, co-sponsored by Lowe's Home Improvement, invited more than 200 female leaders from different industries across Southern California to help with the construction of Habitat LA's upcoming Hyde Park development in the City of Inglewood.

Habitat for Humanity International was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller.  The organizaiton now has more than 1,400 local affiliates in the United States and more than 70 national organizations around the world.  Together, they have helped more than one million families - representing 5 million people - improve their living conditions.