Major affordable housing development underway in Exposition Park

Editor's Note: This post was originally published on July 3, 2017 and has been updated with the most recent information.

Construction has officially gotten underway at Rolland Curtis Gardens in the Exposition Park neighborhood, where developer Abode Communities is replacing a 48-unit complex with 140 affordable apartments.

Abode Communities announced that demolition of the former units had begun via a post to its Facebook page on Thursday (spotted by Urbanize LA).

In the works for several years, the project is located at the intersection of Exposition Boulevard and Wisconsin Street—just a block from Exposition Park and the University of Southern California campus. It will include 1,500 square feet of retail space and a community health clinic, according to Abode Communities. The apartments will be divided into 13 one-bedroom units, 83 two-bedrooms, 42 three-bedrooms, and a pair of manager’s units.

Those units will be available to residents earning between 30 and 60 percent (or lower) of the median income in LA County.

Planning documents show that the project will also include a total of 132 parking spaces and 166 spots for bicycles. Planned amenities for residents include a children’s play area and vegetable gardens.

In October, the LA Times reported that residents of the older complex were concerned about finding housing during construction of the project, and that they might not be kept on as tenants after the redevelopment.

Robin Hughes, president & CEO of Abode Communities, says that all tenants have now been transferred into “alternative affordable housing” as construction gets underway, and that they will be offered first right-of-return at the redeveloped complex once work is complete.

• Rolland Curtis Redevelopment Prepares for Construction [Urbanize LA]
• Residents of Expo Park affordable apartments are now unsure about redevelopment [Curbed LA]
• Low-income requirements for Los Angeles updated for 2017 [Curbed LA]