An artist’s rendering depicts the smartly designed interior at the Senior Arts Colony housing development being constructed at Long Beach Boulevard and Anaheim Street. Photo courtesy of Studio One Eleven.
UPDATE June 27, 4:15pm |An up-and-coming housing development geared toward senior citizens in Long Beach has been named the recipient of the 2011 Gold Nugget Grand Award in the “On the Boards” category for excellence in building design.
The Long Beach Senior Arts Colony, designed by Studio One Eleven, represents the first phase of a mixed-use development being constructed at the intersection of Long Beach Boulevard and Anaheim Street. It will offer 200 affordable housing units to seniors. It will also provide educational and other programming that caters toward an active senior lifestyle. The award was announced at a ceremony in San Francisco June 23. The panel of judges stated:
From the bold, enticing architecture, to the forethought of building massing and emphasis on art, this is an exceptional example of quality urban lifestyle for active seniors. The project achieved a dynamic lifestyle for mixed-income, active adults with ownership and rental opportunities. The judges appreciated the two common area courtyards that create more intimate gathering spaces, a dog park, lawns and gardens. These combinations of lifestyle, affordability, sustainability and strong design elements clearly make this an award winner.
The awards are handed out annually by the Pacific Coast Builders Conference and Builder magazine to recognize those who improve communities through exceptional concepts in design, planning and development, according to information provided by Studio One Eleven’s Vicky Hammond. The project is currently under construction.
Editor’s note: Long Beach Post contributor Brian Ulaszewski is an employee at Studio One Eleven.
An artist’s rendering depicts the Senior Arts Colony on Long Beach Boulevard at Anaheim Street. Photo courtesy of Studio One Eleven. April 18, 10:45pm | The city of Long Beach and the developers of a new seniors-only housing development will celebrate the start of construction on the project this Thursday at the project sight near the intersection of Long Beach Boulevard and Anaheim Street.
The Senior Arts Colony, a 200-unit, transit-oriented residential community designed for active seniors will begin to take shape on April 21 with a groundbreaking ceremony that is open to the public. It will begin at 10:30 a.m. at 225 E. 12th St.
The Long Beach Housing Development Company, along with Meta Housing Corporation and Century Housing Corporation, are building the housing development on about 1.74 acres on the southwest corner of the two major thoroughfares, according to information provided by the city of Long Beach.
The development is designed for residents 55 years and above earning 30 percent to 60 percent of the area median income. The developers believe it will appeal to the active senior population by creating an affordable community with amenities that “engage the spirit and creativity of an active lifestyle,” according to City Hall.
The Colony will be situated within 100 feet of the Metro Blue Line and existing bus lines that along Long Beach Boulevard. And within a half-mile radius of development are a bank, supermarket, beauty salon, hardware store, pocket park, medical center/hospital and postal service, among other businesses and services.
“This is another great development that will not only offer affordable senior housing, but will also help Long Beach be a more sustainable city by creating a pedestrian-friendly environment and encouraging residents to use public transportation,” said Mayor Bob Foster in a prepared statement.
The development will offer onsite programming for residents that will emphasize creative and healthy aging with arts, wellness, lifelong learning, community building and intergenerational programs for seniors, according to City Hall.
Western Seniors Housing will manage the property, while on-site social services will be provided by
Included in the design plans are community rooms, a theater, art rooms, community gardens, a bark park area, residential library, BBQ areas, a spa, laundry facilities, open outdoor areas and on-site management offices and social services.
Patrick Brown, chair of the LBHDC Board of Directors, said in a statement that the company’s mission is to provide safe and livable neighborhoods in Long Beach through the production of “quality affordable housing.”
“The Long Beach Senior Arts Colony development touches on so many positive aspects of life for our Long Beach senior citizens; affordable safe and secure housing, social support and personal growth, and a recognition of the importance our seniors play in our community,“ Brown said.
The development is being funded by government programs designed to revitalize communities through social and environmental considerations. In July 2009, the LBHDC and Meta were awarded nearly $26 million in Transit Oriented Development and Infill Infrastructure Grant funds from the California State Department of Housing and Community Development, according to City Hall.
“We are proud to be part of this important project that will bring critically-needed affordable housing to seniors in Long Beach,” said Aaron Wooler, vice president of Financial Products for Century Housing, in a statement. “The project reinforces the demand for low and moderate income housing funds that support seniors, homeless residents and veterans, which in turn help to build local economies.”
The first 39 units are estimated to be completed by June 2012, with the entire project slated for completion in December 2012, according to City Hall.
