Major new affordable housing complex on the way to Long Beach

A major new affordable development planned right alongside the Blue Line in Long Beach’s Wrigley neighborhood is now well on its way to construction after the city’s planning commission approved the project last week.

Located at 1900 Long Beach Boulevard, just two blocks from the Pacific Coast Highway Metro station, the project will bring 95 apartments and 12,388 square feet of ground-level commercial space to the area. The one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences will be available to those earning between 30 and 60 percent of LA County’s median income.

Around half of the units will be set aside for those currently homeless or those who are at risk of becoming homeless, according to a statement from the city. The commercial space on the first floor will include retail, services for tenants, and a YMCA office.

Developed by Long Beach-based nonprofit developer LINC Housing Corporation, the project will be called The Spark at Midtown. It will be financed through a $3 million loan provided by the city’s Community Investment Company.

Development activity in Long Beach has been heating up lately. Much of it has been concentrated in the Downtown area, but a recent presentation by Mayor Robert Garcia highlighted eight projects (including Spark) in the works in the Midtown area. Three of those developments are set to rise within just a half-mile of the affordable complex.

• Downtown Long Beach development: Mapping all the major projects on the way [Curbed LA]
• Construction finally set to begin at Long Beach’s 2nd and PCH development site [Curbed LA]
• LA wants to make it easier to build housing for the homeless [Curbed LA]