Affordable Housing and Equitable Development

We have been a long time advocate for affordable housing in the Los Angeles area. We recognize the importance of economic independence combined with an improved quality of life for low to moderate income individuals and families. Thai CDC has over nineteen years of experience in affordable housing development and has developed more than 106 units for very low and low income individuals and families.

Fighting for Equitable Development Around Transit 

As a non-profit developer, we seek to preserve, maintain, develop, and support equitable developments throughout the regions that we serve. Thai Town is located in a Transit Oriented District (TOD) where the Metro Red Line runs through and where the East Hollywood portion is governed by the City of Los Angeles’ Specific Plan known as the Station Neighborhood Area Plan (SNAP). Thai CDC was the organization contracted by the City of Los Angeles Planning Department in 1998 to help the diverse stakeholders and sectors in the community develop the 20 year vision for the 1 mile radius around each of the 5 red line stops identifying the need for livability, economic development, open space, greening, historic preservation, affordable housing, limitation on parking, community amenities, increased walkability, and mixed use developments. Thai CDC is currently a member of the Alliance for Community-Based Transit Oriented Development of Los Angeles (ACT LA) which seeks to safeguard the interests of low income and minority community members in the developments occurring around transit to ensure economic and social equity. It demands transparency, accountability and smart policy making of decision makers and promotes the community’s self-determination to direct, guide and shape developments and the land use process with the goal of creating direct benefits to the community and preventing displacement of existing residents and business owners. Currently with the support of the California Community Foundation, Thai CDC endeavors to engage  community members in an educational process leading up to community driven campaigns to demand fair and equitable developments specifically around transit. We are a part of the ongoing struggle to bring fair and equitable development to East Hollywood and the City of Los Angeles overall. Thai CDC continues to be a fierce advocate for affordable  housing, sustainable development,  smart growth and community benefits in transit districts. We will hold the decision makers and developers accountable to the need of the community for quality goods/services, decent and affordable housing, open space, and public amenities.

Affordable Housing

• Halifax Apartments (6376 Yucca Street, Los Angeles, CA) Thai CDC completed the historic rehabilitation of the renowned Halifax Apartments in Hollywood in partnership with a women and minority owned for-profit developer, the O.N.E. Company, converting 72 single units into 46 units of affordable multi-family housing. Through tax credits, this 46 unit building was carefully restored into newly renovated apartments, consisting of studio to 4-bedroom units for individuals and families at 35% and 50% of Average Median Income. The basement, which once provided apartment hotel services, has been remodeled as a community space for social services, after school programs, and computer skills development for residents. Halifax received over $5 million in financing including the 4% State Tax Credit Allocation Program, Fannie Mae, Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, and Washington Mutual (currently JP Morgan Chase). Enterprise Community Partners provided $1 million in temporary acquisition loan to purchase this property in 1997.
  

• Palm Village Senior Housing-Thai CDC, in partnership with the Little Tokyo Service Center Community Development Corporation, a Los Angeles nonprofit organization, completed the development of 60 units of senior affordable housing, Palm Village Senior Housing in March 2008. This project is located in the Sun Valley area of the City of Los Angeles and offers 1 bedroom units at 35% and 50% AMI. The Palm Village Senior Housing Project received over $10.9 million in financial support from HUD Section 202, the City of Los Angeles Housing Department, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, and City National Bank. Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) provided $1.15 million in temporary acquisition loan to purchase the property in June 2003. Palm Village also provides a spacious multipurpose/community room, landscaped courtyard, laundry room, and library.