Affordable housing begins work on former site of Umeya Rice Cake Company in DTLA

At a ceremony held earlier this week with L.A. city officials, non-profit developer and service provider Little Tokyo Service Center commenced work on a new affordable and supportive housing complex at the former site of the Umeya Rice Cake Company in Downtown.

View from Towne AvenueLTSC

The Umeya, planned for a property located at 412-426 S. Crocker Street, will consist of a seven-story building at featuring 175 apartments studio, one-, and two-bedroom units apartments, priced for low-, very low-, and extremely low-income households. Half of the apartments will also serve as permanent supportive housing, offering wraparound services to formerly unhoused residents.

FSY Architects is designing the Crocker development, which will have a V-shaped foot print, creating space for two courtyards at street level. The complex will include approximately 13,000 square feet of space at the ground floor dedicated to community uses, retail, and service providers. Additionally, plans call for a new mural by Skid Row artist Showzart, which will honor the Umeya business.

CourtyardLTSC

“Being able to contribute towards alleviating the housing affordability crisis on a site symbolic to the history of both Little Tokyo and Skid Row is momentous. Along with our Little Tokyo community and the Umeya family, we’re grateful to our partnership with the Skid Row community and are eager to continue working together to create positive change," said LTSC director of community development Takao Suzuki in a statement posted to the LTSC website.

LTSC, acquired the Umeya Rice Cake Co. property for $8.4 million in 2019 - roughly two years after the marker of senbei and other confections ceased operations. The new apartment building is set for completion in 2025.

Groundbreaking ceremony for the Umeya ProjectGary Leonard