In a move hailed as a positive step toward addressing the city's housing crisis, the Santa Monica City Council has given the green light for a proposed affordable and supportive housing development on 4th Street, officials announced.
The council's recent nod kicks off plans for the 122-unit complex at 1318 4th Street that's geared towards lower-income individuals and those experiencing homelessness, this comes alongside a street-level retail space, residential and commercial parking; the development is by EAH Housing, which aims to offer various apartment sizes to cater to different needs, and all applicants will be funneled from either the city's Below Market Housing waitlist or the Santa Monica Housing Authority’s Permanent Supportive Housing waitlist.
"We look forward to these apartments being built to support our community members in need of affordable housing," Heather Averick, the city's Housing and Human Services Director, told officials. With this recent approval, EAH Housing now has the go-ahead to seek low-income housing tax credits and other financial avenues to initiate construction, with the anticipation for a winter 2027 start and projected completion by 2029.
The city's commitment to the project includes 50 project-based vouchers and a Housing Trust Fund loan, ensuring a robust support framework for the new residents, and as part of the city's 6th Cycle Housing Element for 2021-2029, the 4th Street property is one of five city-owned sites tagged for such developments, the rest include Wilshire Parking Lots, 4th/Arizona, Bergamot Arts Center and Main Street Parking Lots; these projects collectively underscore Santa Monica's multi-front war on housing insecurity and the plight of homelessness.
