Clifford Beers Housing, Inc. (CBH) and the Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD) held a groundbreaking event for their new residential project which will renovate and expand South Central’s historic YMCA building. The four story building was designed in 1926 by the noted African-American architect Paul Williams. A new five story building will be added to the site. The property was vacated, and the CBH/CRCD team purchased it with a $1.65 million acquisition/pre-development loan from CSH’s LA Permanent Supportive Housing Loan Fund.
The building is a designated historic landmark and was home to the first club in Los Angeles founded by and for young African-American men. Construction begins this month and is projected to be completed in August 2012. CBH will add an additional building to the site and upgrade the existing building to create 48 full studio units with bathrooms and cooking facilities and a manager’s unit. In addition, ground floor space will be developed for use as a community center and supportive social services for homeless and low-income tenants.
Turnout for the groundbreaking included Council President Pro Tem Jan Perry, CBH’s Jim Bonar and his staff, Mark Wilson of CRCD, CSH Los Angeles Director Ruth Teague, and dozens of community residents.
