Star Apartments

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Star Apartments
Star Apartments.jpg
Star Apartments
General information
TypeMixed use (mainly residential)
AddressEast 6th Street, Skid Row, Los Angeles, United States
Coordinates 34°02′36″N118°14′52″W / 34.043453°N 118.247746°W / 34.043453; -118.247746
OpenedOctober 2014 (2014-10)
CostUS$40 million
Owner Skid Row Housing Trust
Technical details
Structural system Cantilevered frame
Floor count6
Floor area95,000 square feet (8,800 m2)
Design and construction
Architecture firm Michael Maltzan Architecture
Awards and prizesLEED Platinum, Outstanding affordable project, 2015
Other information
Number of units
Website
Star-Apartments

The Star Apartments are a purpose-built residential housing complex on Los Angeles' Skid Row that caters to the needs of the long-term homeless. [1] Opened in October 2014, the Star Apartments include 102 units averaging 350 square feet, alongside amenities such as on-site medical services, counseling, fitness and art facilities and a community garden. The complex was developed by the Skid Row Housing Trust, and designed by Los Angeles–based firm Michael Maltzan Architecture. It received LEED Platinum status in August 2015. The building also houses the Los Angeles County Department for Health Services' Housing for Health division. [2]

Contents

Description

Units

The building opened in October 2014. Star Apartments include 102 units averaging 350 square feet, alongside amenities such as on-site medical services, counseling, fitness and art facilities and a community garden.

Location

The Star Apartments are located in the Skid Row neighborhood, known for its large homeless population. [3] The site of the building has frontage on East 6th Street on the northeast, Wall Street on the southeast, and Maple Avenue to the northwest.

Residency

Residents of the Star Apartments have been identified as members of the "most vulnerable" population of Los Angeles County, including the chronic homeless and those with a record of frequently utilizing emergency medical services. [4] Each resident is required to pay 30 percent of income or government assistance toward rent. Residency is non-conditional, meaning residents are not required to enroll in assistance programs offered on-site, including addiction counseling, medical assistance, or psychiatric counseling. [1]

The building received a certificate of occupancy in 2014, and was expected to reach full occupancy by November 2014. [5] [6]

In addition to residential tenants, the building is home to the offices of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services' Housing for Health division headquarters, a US$18 million program with the mandate to house Los Angeles County's 'sickest and most vulnerable' and a mission to "end homelessness in Los Angeles." [7]

Developer and architect

The complex was designed by Michael Maltzan Architecture (MMA), a Los Angeles–based firm led by architect Michael Maltzan. The developer of the site is the Skid Row Housing Trust. The Star Apartments are the third collaboration between the Skid Row Housing Trust and MMA, and follows the development of the Rainbow and New Carver Apartments projects. [8]

Maltzan has been quoted at length regarding his interest in re-imagining housing for the homeless, including that "the community that lives [in the Star Apartments] should have a similar environment to anybody that could afford something more expensive." [7] He has also alluded to the intent to create interaction among residents through design choices, saying that "What we're trying to create is something that feels like a microcosm of the city itself," and indicating his hope that the Star Apartments could prove a model for future, similar projects. [1]

Architecture

The six-story, 95,000 square feet (8,800 m2) building includes 102 apartments built around three distinct use concepts, including street level retail space, space for supportive programming for the Skid Row Housing Trust's primary constituency, and residents. It also accommodates an on-site health clinic, community garden, running track, fitness facilities, and art and library facilities. [7] Roughly 15,000 square feet are allocated as public, community space, and are open to residents of other Skid Row Housing Trust residential complexes. [6] [4] The projected budget for the project was $20.5 million in 2012. [1] Later news reports at the time of the complex's opening put the total cost of construction at $40 million, reportedly following increased costs related to the complexity of installing the pre-fabricated units on the buildings cantilevered frame. [7] [4]

Although the building is primarily known for housing members of Los Angeles' homeless population, it is also notable for its unique construction method—it is thought to be the first multi-unit residential building to utilize entirely pre-fabricated construction. [1] Each of the 102 apartment units were pre-fabricated as self-contained wood-frame units in Boise, Idaho, by Guerdon Enterprises. The interim construction, including plumbing, appliances, and cabinetry, was then shipped to Los Angeles, where it was maneuvered into place by crane before being permanently adjoined to the building superstructure. [4] All of the units were then covered in protective material, and visually unified with a stucco-style coating. [9]

The building awaited LEED certification upon opening to residents. [5] It received LEED Platinum certification in 2015, noted as the outstanding affordable project. [10]

History

The Star Apartments are one of more than 20 residential complexes maintained by the Skid Row Housing Trust. The Skid Row Housing Trust "develops, manages, and operates Permanent Supportive Housing" buildings in the Los Angeles Skid Row area. [11]

The developers received a low income housing tax credit equity from the National Equity Fund and Bank of America for the purpose of financing the project. [6] A decision was made by the architects to incorporate the lot's existing single story commercial structure into the plans, rather than raze the site entirely. [12]

The Star Apartments are part of Los Angeles County's "Housing for Health" initiative to develop 10,000 units of so-called permanent "supportive housing" for individuals suffering from homelessness. Permanent supportive housing attempts to house individuals first before attempting to treat the underlying conditions of homelessness. [13]

Critical reception

The finished construction has been described as "beautiful, modern, and bright," according to National Public Radio. [13] A representative of the American Institute of Architect's Los Angeles chapter said that it "does much to enliven the neighborhood" and that the finished building adds a "sense of urban grace to an area that desperately needs more love.” [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skid row</span> Impoverished urban area in North America

A skid row, also called skid road, is an impoverished area, typically urban, in English-speaking North America whose inhabitants are mostly poor people "on the skids". This specifically refers to people who are poor or homeless, considered disreputable, downtrodden or forgotten by society. A skid row may be anything from an impoverished urban district to a red-light district to a gathering area for people experiencing homelessness or drug addiction. In general, skid row areas are inhabited or frequented by impoverished individuals and also people who are addicted to drugs. Urban areas considered skid rows are marked by high vagrancy, dilapidated buildings, and drug dens, as well as other features of urban blight. Used figuratively, the phrase may indicate the state of a poor person's life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downtown Los Angeles</span> Neighborhood in Los Angeles, California

Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA) contains the central business district of Los Angeles. In addition, it contains a diverse residential area of some 85,000 people, and covers 5.84 sq mi (15.1 km2). A 2013 study found that the district is home to over 500,000 jobs. It is also part of Central Los Angeles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Single room occupancy</span> Low-cost housing format

Single room occupancy is a form of housing that is typically aimed at residents with low or minimal incomes, or single adults who like a minimalist lifestyle, who rent small, furnished single rooms with a bed, chair, and sometimes a small desk. SRO units are rented out as permanent residence and/or primary residence to individuals, within a multi-tenant building where tenants share a kitchen, toilets or bathrooms. SRO units range from 7 to 13 square metres. In some instances, contemporary units may have a small refrigerator, microwave, or sink.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Angeles County Department of Health Services</span> Municipal health system in Los Angeles County, California, US

Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the public hospitals and clinics in Los Angeles County, and is the United States' second largest municipal health system, after NYC Health + Hospitals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So Others Might Eat</span>

So Others Might Eat (SOME) is a nonprofit organization that provides services to assist those dealing with poverty and homelessness in Washington, D.C. The organization provides affordable housing, job training, counseling and other healthcare services, and daily needs such as food and clothing to the poor and homeless. It spends the largest portion of its annual budget on affordable housing, with a majority of its residents recovering from addiction. SOME describes its mission as helping "our vulnerable neighbors in Washington, DC, break the cycle of homelessness through our comprehensive and transformative services".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skid Row, Los Angeles</span> Neighborhood in Downtown Los Angeles

Skid Row is a neighborhood in Downtown Los Angeles. The area is officially known as Central City East.

Alice Callaghan is an Episcopalian priest and a former Roman Catholic nun.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UCLA student housing</span> Housing at University of California, Los Angeles

Student housing owned by the University of California, Los Angeles is governed by two separate departments: the Office of Residential Life, and Housing and Hospitality Services, and provides housing for both undergraduates and graduate students, on and off-campus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midnight Mission</span> Human services organization in Skid Row, Los Angeles

The Midnight Mission is a human services organization in downtown Los Angeles' Skid Row. It was founded in 1914. A secular non-profit, the organization provides food, drug and alcohol recovery services, "safe sleep" programs, educational training, a mobile kitchen, and family housing with an emphasis on developing self-sufficiency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Fernando Building</span> United States historic place

The San Fernando Building is an Italian Renaissance Revival style building built in 1906 on Main Street in the Historic Core district of downtown Los Angeles, California. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, converted into lofts in 2000, and declared a Historic-Cultural Monument in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breaking Ground</span> Nonprofit organization in New York City

Breaking Ground, formerly Common Ground, is a nonprofit social services organization in New York City whose goal is to create high-quality permanent and transitional housing for the homeless. Its philosophy holds that supportive housing costs substantially less than homeless shelters — and many times less than jail cells or hospital rooms, and that people with psychiatric and other problems can better manage them once they are permanently housed and provided with services. Since its founding in 1990 by Rosanne Haggerty, the organization has created more than 5,000 units of housing for the homeless. "This is about creating a small town, rather than just a building," according to Haggerty. "It's about a real mixed society, working with many different people." Haggerty left the organization in 2011 to found Community Solutions, Inc. Brenda Rosen was promoted from Director, Housing Operations and Programs to Executive Director, and has led the organization since.

The Weingart Center for the Homeless is a comprehensive human services center for homeless men and women living in Skid Row, Los Angeles. It provides on-site short and long-term services including transitional residential housing, medical & mental health, permanent supportive housing, substance abuse recovery, education, workforce development, long term case management. The Weingart Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

Palladia, Inc. is a social services organization in New York City, working with individuals and families challenged by addiction, homelessness, AIDS, domestic violence, poverty and trauma. Founded in 1970, Palladia was known as Project Return Foundation until 2002. The organization began as a drug treatment facility and evolved to address the concerns of its clients, developing services such as domestic violence shelters, outpatient drug treatment programs, parenting programs, AIDS outreach, alternatives to incarceration, and transitional and permanent housing. Today Palladia serves over 1300 clients daily.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cecil Hotel (Los Angeles)</span> Affordable housing complex in Downtown Los Angeles

The Cecil Hotel is an affordable housing complex in Downtown Los Angeles. It opened on December 20, 1924, as a budget hotel. In 2011, the hotel was renamed the Stay On Main. The 14-floor hotel has 700 guest rooms. The hotel has a checkered history, with many suicides and deaths occurring there. Renovations started in 2017 were halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in the hotel's temporary closure. On December 13, 2021, the Cecil Hotel was reinaugurated as an affordable housing complex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Maltzan</span> American architect

Michael Maltzan is the principal architect at Michael Maltzan Architecture (MMA), a Los Angeles–based architecture firm. He received a Master of Architecture degree from Harvard University and both a Bachelor of Architecture degree and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Rhode Island School of Design. Maltzan was selected as a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 2007.

Community Housing Partnership is a nonprofit organization in San Francisco, California, that provides housing, job training and other services to people formerly living in homelessness. Founded in 1990, it owns and operates 14 residential buildings and collaborates with other organizations in its goals.

Izek Shomof is an Israeli-born, American real estate developer, investor, one-time film producer and former restaurateur. Born in Tel Aviv, he dropped out of high school to open restaurants and an autoshop. Since the 1990s, he has restored many historic buildings in Downtown Los Angeles. He has been honored for his philanthropic work in reducing homelessness in Los Angeles.

Mollie Ellen Lowery was an American advocate for homeless and mentally ill people in Los Angeles. In 1984, she co-founded the non-profit housing support center, LAMP, and in 2006 she founded an advocacy group, Housing Works.

National Community Renaissance, also known as National CORE, is a U.S. non-profit community builder specializing in affordable, multifamily, mixed-income, senior, workforce and special needs housing. Based in Rancho Cucamonga, California, National CORE operates in three states: California, Florida, and Texas. The company is one of the largest national nonprofit developers of affordable housing in the United States, with more than 9,000 units. National CORE develops, owns and manages units. Its Hope through Housing Foundation – also a non-profit organization – provides social services such as preschool and after school programs, senior wellness, violence prevention, economic advancement and financial literacy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydee Feldstein Soto</span> Los Angeles City Attorney

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References

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  2. O'Brien, Kathleen (24 October 2014). "L.A.'s Amenity-Filled Way of Tackling Homelessness". Nation Swell. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  3. Rath, Arun. "As Downtown LA Grows, So Does Urgency To Fix Skid Row". NPR. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Kim, Eddie. "With Star Apartments, Skid Row Gets a Stunning Housing Complex". DT News. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  5. 1 2 Kim, Eddie. "Skid Row's Star Apartments Ready For Move-Ins". DT News. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 Couch, Robbie. "New Skid Row Homeless Apartment Complex Has A Running Track And Art Studio". Huffington Post. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Holland, Gale. "Innovative apartment complex for homeless people opens on skid row". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  8. Glick Kudler, Adrian. "Michael Maltzan's Prefab Star Apartments Stacking in Skid Row". Curbed. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  9. Vaillancourt, Ryan. "Downtown's Prefabricated Architectural Star". DT News. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  10. Roberts, Fleming (August 15, 2015). "U.S. Green Building Council Announces LEED for Homes Award Winners". US Green Building Council. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  11. "Our Buildings".
  12. Meinhold, Bridgette. "Bridgette Meinhold Michael Maltzan's Prefab Star Apartments Are Currently Rising in Downtown LA". Inhabit. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  13. 1 2 Rath, Arun; Dreisbach, Tom. "As Downtown LA Grows, So Does Urgency To Fix Skid Row". NPR.