Modular supportive housing scheduled for March groundbreaking in DTLA

Yesterday, the Los Angeles City Council approved the release of up to $35 million in bond funding for the construction of a new supportive housing development in Downtown Los Angeles.

5th Street elevationSteinberg Hart

The project, which is being developed by Relevant Group, would rise near the northwest corner of 5th and San Pedro Streets, replacing a surface parking lot and a small commercial building. Plans call for a an eight-story edifice containing 149 apartments - all of which would be one-bedroom units - with on-site supportive services and residential amenities.

The new development, which will target is targeted to chronically homeless households with special needs, is being built to satisfy the conditions of approval of a proposed renovation to the historic Hotel Barclay a quarter-mile west at the intersection of 5th and Main Streets. The late 19th century has long provided single-room occupancy apartments for the Downtown neighborhood, but is poised to be converted into a luxury boutique hotel under plans from Relevant Group.

Steinberg Hart is designing proposed development, which would be composed of prefabricated modular units. Besides housing and services, the roughly 95-foot-tall building would include an interior courtyard and a rooftop deck for the use of residents.

Aerial view looking westSteinberg Hart

Construction of the new supportive housing is expected to begin in March, according to a project representative. Completion is expected in approximately 18 months.

Relevant, which has built a handful of trendy new hotels in Hollywood, has more recently set its sights on Downtown Los Angeles. In addition to its pending renovation of the Barclay, the company also plans to redevelop the Morrison Hotel near Staples Center. Like the Barclay, that project would also require the replacement of existing SRO apartments - in this case at a nearby location in the Westlake neighborhood.

Relevant is also planning a third affordable housing development using modular construction in South Los Angeles.