City of Long Beach Celebrates Grand Opening of New Affordable Housing Development
The City of Long Beach, in partnership with The Long Beach Community Investment Company (LBCIC) and Linc Housing Corporation (Linc), today celebrated the opening of the Spark at Midtown (Spark), a new, 95-unit supportive and affordable housing community in Midtown Long Beach.
“Our efforts to address and expand affordable housing opportunities across all parts of Long Beach continue to be successful,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “This development will provide affordable homes, address housing insecurity and help ignite the revitalization of the Long Beach Boulevard corridor.”
The afternoon event, attended by Mayor Garcia, Councilwoman Suely Saro, City staff and representatives from partnering agencies, included a tour of the five-story development located at 1900 Long Beach Blvd. The project provides a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units for low-income residents earning 60 percent of the area median income (AMI) and individuals who have experienced homelessness. Construction on the site, which was previously a vacant lot, began in spring 2019 and was completed in early 2021.
Situated adjacent to the Metro A line, the Spark also offers ground floor space that houses the YMCA of Greater Long Beach Youth Institute program and their video company, Change Agent Productions and a Dignity Health St. Mary Medical Center clinic. A third retail space is planned for a business that will bring healthy food options to the neighborhood.
“This development provides much-needed affordable housing that each neighborhood in Long Beach deserves,” said Councilwoman Saro. “Smart, sustainable housing projects like this one not only impact individual families, but also benefit the community-at-large by promoting vitality and livability here in the 6th District and throughout our town.”
Residents will have access to community areas that include multi-purpose spaces to house a variety of resident programs including case management services for the formerly homeless households provided through partnerships with L.A. Care, the Los Angeles County Department of Health Service and The People Concern. Other facilities include a computer lab, space for an after-school program and bike amenities.
“I’m proud of The LBCIC’s commitment to its mission of providing and preserving affordable housing for the members of our community. This development is a true and timely testament to that mission,” said The LBCIC Board Chairwoman Patrice Wong. “Good housing makes all of our neighborhoods stronger and our City a better place to live, work and visit.”
In October 2017, The LBCIC approved an agreement to convey the project property to Linc and approved a total loan of $3 million to provide gap financing for the Spark’s development.
For more information on the City’s affordable housing and assistance programs, visit the Long Beach Development Services webpage.
About the City of Long Beach
Home to approximately 470,000 people, the multiple award-winning and innovative City of Long Beach offers all the world-class amenities of a large metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods nestled together along the California coast. As a full-service charter city, Long Beach is home to the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, several museums and theaters, a highly-rated school district, Long Beach Airport, the Port of Long Beach, as well as many award-winning City departments such as Health, Parks, Recreation and Marine, Development Services, Public Works and more. The City also has a highly respected university and city college, two historic ranchos, five hospitals, 12 libraries, five golf courses, 169 parks, miles of beaches, marinas, bike paths and a Bike Share program.
For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov. Watch us on LBTV. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
About Long Beach Development Services
Serving residents, businesses, and the community at large, the Long Beach Development Services Department sets a standard for high-quality, innovative urban planning and livability efforts that create more progressive and sustainable communities in the City. The Department, in its pursuit of the City’s goals to eliminate blight, create economic opportunities, provide affordable housing, and revitalize neighborhoods, works closely with the Long Beach Community Investment Co. (LBCIC), the City’s nonprofit affiliate. The LBCIC advises the City Council regarding delivery of housing and neighborhood revitalization services, use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, and ongoing administration of the City’s affordable housing funds. For more information, visit longbeach.gov/LBDS.