Weingart Center has taken a key step towards the construction of a high-rise supportive housing complex in Downtown Los Angeles.

Yesterday, the Los Angeles City Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the homeless services provider's proposed 18-story tower at the southeast corner of 6th and San Pedro Streets.  The project, which would replace a City-owned parking lot, calls for a total of 302 apartments - including 298 restricted affordable units and four manager units - with approximately 10,230 square feet of ground-floor commercial space and on-site supportive services.  Parking for 212 vehicles - intended to serve the existing Weingart Center facility across the street - would be provided in an adjoining garage.

Weingart Center intends to price the apartments for extremely low-, very low-, and low-income levels, serving households at or below 30, 50, and 80 percent of the area median income respectively.

Joseph Wong Design Associates is serving as the project's architect, with AHBE | MIG providing landscape design.  Renderings depict a contemporary high-rise structure, standing approximately 211 feet tall, adorned with a series of terrace decks, a community garden, and street-level courtyard facing Crocker Street.

Requested entitlements for the project include a general plan amendment and a zone change, meaning that approval from the Los Angeles City Council will be required prior to the start of construction.

The tower at 600 San Pedro Street is the second half of a two-phase development from Weingart Center the first component, which has already been approved by the City of Los Angeles, calls for the construction of 12- and 18-story buildings at 554 S. San Pedro Street containing 378 affordable apartments.

Other affordable and supportive housing projects in development in the surrounding area include a 93-unit complex from Mercy Housing of California at 6th and San Julian Streets and a 14-story tower planned by Skid Row Housing Trust on 5th Street.

Though historically associated with the Downtown community, Weingart Center has recently extended its efforts westward with plans for a supportive housing project near Century City.

Interested in finding affordable housing? Visit housing.lacity.org.