City Celebrates Opening of New Affordable Housing Community for Older Adults and Senior Veterans

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PRESS RELEASE

City officials and partners celebrate the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Heritage Gardens affordable housing development.
Above from left: Ed Holder, Vice President, Real Estate Development Mercy Housing California; Anna Topolewski, Deputy Executive Director, Housing Authority of the City of Long Beach; Garrett Gin, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing & Corporate Affairs, Bank of America; Dr. Suely Saro, Councilwoman, City of Long Beach, Sixth District; Thomas Holmes, Resident, Heritage Gardens; Laurie Udit, Field Office Director, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; Eva Melgarejo, Director, The Long Beach Community Investment Company; Dr. Lia Kraemer, Acting Medical Center Director, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Jeanette Christian, Supervisor Deputy, Office of Supervisor Janice Hahn; Lynn Katano, Los Angeles County Development Authority

Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach today joined with nonprofit developer Mercy Housing California and other partner organizations to celebrate the opening of Heritage Gardens, a new housing community in the Midtown area. The development features 67 apartment homes for low- and very low- income older adults ages 55 or older, with units reserved for senior veterans who have experienced homelessness.

"This new project inCentral Long Beach underscores the City's strong commitment to creating and preserving affordable housing options for all residents," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "Heritage Gardens is another great development that will provide permanent homes and services to help ensure the security, dignity and wellbeing of our older adults and senior veterans."

At an event that featured a ceremonial ribbon cutting for the four-story apartment complex, City and Mercy Housing officials were joined by representatives from The Long Beach Community Investment Company (LBCIC) and other local, state and federal partner agencies.

Located at 941 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., Heritage Gardens offers several amenities, including one on-site management unit, a community center, a courtyard and recreation area, as well as murals honoring the neighborhood's rich history by local artists Andrea James and Roshi. Residents will have access to various onsite health and wellness, financial literacy, art and cooking programs. Additionally, the project has incorporated several energy-efficient components, including solar photovoltaic and solar hot water systems.

With the opening of two other affordable housing projects earlier this year (26 Point 2 near the Traffic Circle and Wellspring in Cambodia Town) and the start of construction for a third (1400 Long Beach) also in the Midtown area, the City, through its Community Development Department, is continuing its fast-track efforts to support the building of safe, quality housing for residents across all income levels while increasing the feasibility of development of underused sites across the city.

"The Sixth District continues to be uplifted with wonderful new opportunities and developments," said Sixth District Councilwoman Dr. Suely Saro. "Heritage Gardens builds on this energy, providing safe, affordable and quality housing and services for older adults."

In April 2021, The LBCIC approved a $3 million loan to provide gap financing for Heritage Gardens. Additionally, Housing Authority of the City of Long Beach awarded the project 16 Project-Based Vouchers and 18 Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Vouchers. In collaboration with the City's Economic Development Department, which provided crucial assistance in the land acquisition, the project was also funded in part by the California Department of Housing and Community Development Multi-Family Housing Program, a loan from the Los Angeles County Development Authority, HOME Investment Partnerships program funds from The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits.

"The LBCIC is always proud to invest in supportive housing communities that create safe, healthy environments for some of our most cherished Long Beach residents in need," said The LBCIC Director Eva Melgarejo. "Affordable housing options such as Heritage Gardens demonstrate our commitment to the vitality of our great city while honoring the life experiences and challenges of its population."

Mercy Housing is one of the nation's largest affordable housing organizations, participating in the development, preservation, management and/or financing of affordable, program-enriched housing across the country.

"Escalating rents are creating an enormous burden for seniors in Long Beach, and we were able to act with urgency thanks to collaboration of our partners," said Mercy Housing California Vice President for Real Estate Ed Holder. "These homes and services will provide seniors with the opportunity to age with dignity, health and support."

For more information about Heritage Gardens and other affordable housing projects, visit the Community Development Department's Housing and Neighborhood Services Bureau or call 562.570.6949.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. For more information about the Community Development Department, visit longbeach.gov/lbcd and like on Facebook page and follow on X and Instagram.

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