AMCAL Completes LA County Affordable Housing

By Dees Stribling, Contributing Editor

Lynwood, Calif.—Park Place Apartments, a part of the redevelopment of the Lynwood Gardens neighborhood in Lynwood, has opened. The 99-unit affordable housing project replaces an outdated commercial building and rundown market on the site. Lynwood is located in southern Los Angeles County. Affordable housing specialist AMCAL developed the property. It includes two Type V buildings, each of three levels, designed to LEED Gold certification.

Designed by architect Withee Malcolm, Park Place Apartments is built in Contemporary Craftsman style. AMCAL was awarded an allocation of $7.9 million in 9 percent low-income housing tax credits for the project in 2011. The city awarded an RFP to AMCAL in 2009 and provided RDA and HOME funding. The project will be subject to a minimum low-income use period of 55 years. Amenities include a community room with a lounge and kitchenette, pool, barbecue areas and children’s playground.

Tenants will also be provided with 209 spaces of on-grade parking, laundry facilities and a central security gate and alarms. Park Place units offer balconies and patios overlooking the landscape, as well as storage space.

As with all AMCAL developments, Park Place Apartments will also include social services from LifeSTEPS for children and adults that will include computer training, job skills training, ESL classes, health and nutrition programs and parenting classes. Park Place Apartments features a street-front childcare facility to provide tenants and the surrounding community access to free childcare for children of low-income families. The facility will measure over 2,000 square feet and will have two large classrooms and its own tot lot to accommodate up to 32 children.