Affordable housing pitched for Methodist church property in Culver City

At its meeting last week, the Culver City City Council voted unanimously to approve a request from non-profit developer Community Corp. of Santa Monica relating to changes to a proposed affordable complex at the site of Culver Palms United Methodist Church at 4464 Sepulveda Boulevard.

The project, as originally envisioned, called for razing the existing church and pre-school building to clear the way for a new five-story, nearly 157,000-square-foot building featuring 78 residential units atop semi-subterranean parking for 127 vehicles. The project would also include the construction of a new buildings on the site property for both the church and the pre-school.

Culver Palms United Methodist Church at 4464 Sepulveda Boulevard Google Maps

While that concept was sufficient to secure a funding commitment from the Culver City Housing Authority, the project was unable to obtain additional financing, forcing Community Corp. to go back to the drawing board. The result is now a larger development featuring 95 one, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, reserved for households earning between 30 and 80 percent of the area median income level.

The building, which is named as "Jubilo Village," in a memo to the City Council, is expected to cost nearly $66.5 million, with funding sources including a $4 million contribution from Culver City. Financing is expected to close by December 2023.

While Community Corp. will lead the development, the project's origins come from the church itself.

"As we learned about the need for housing in this community, [Culver Palms United Methodist Church] responded to a call.... After discussions in small groups, Church Town Halls, and Church Council meetings, we decided as a church family during last year’s Charge Conference that we do want to see affordable housing built on the church property. And, after much deliberation and a participatory process, a decision was made by the CPUMC Council to build completely new church facilities."

Scanned image depicting Jubilo VillageCulver City

Culver Palms United Methodist Church will continue to own the land, with ground lease payments covering the cost of the new church and pre-school buildings.

Community Corp., best known for developing affordable housing in its hometown of Santa Monica, is not a stranger to the City of Los Angeles - or working with religious entities. The non-profit is currently working with local Jewish congregation IKAR to build 55 units of permanent supportive housing in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood.