Construction about to start on downtown housing

DOWNEY - City officials hosted a public groundbreaking event Thursday to mark the start of construction on The View, a 50-unit affordable housing project at 8314 2nd St.A similar event was held in 2011 when an old Verizon building was razed at the site. Featuring mid-century architecture, The View will include 34 two-bedroom units, 15 three-bedroom units and one two-bedroom reserved for an on-site manager. All units will have private balconies. Residents will also have access to a community center, "tot-lot," rooftop garden and more. Construction is expected to start in March and will take about two years to complete. Housing applications will become available in late 2014, officials said. The View was one of 12 developments in L.A. County to receive $8.8 million in federal low-income housing tax credits. It also received nearly $2.4 million in credits from the City of Industry, said Sean Rogan, executive director of the Community Development Commission of L.A. County. "The View will be a great addition to our city, specifically to our Downtown area, helping to provide local residents with new housing," Mayor Mario Guerra said in a statement. "We are eager for construction to begin and excited at what this project is going to do for our Downtown." The View will not be the first affordable housing complex downtown. Downey previously used City of Industry funds to develop Heritage Court, an apartment complex for low-income seniors at 8133 3rd St.

********** Published: February 21, 2013 - Volume 11 - Issue 45