PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA - Today, the City of Long Beach celebrated the grand opening of a new award-winning affordable housing and supportive community located in the Midtown area, together with The Long Beach Community Investment Company (LBCIC), Clifford Beers Housing and other partnering agencies.  

“Long Beach continues to do all we can to prioritize the development and preservation of quality, affordable housing throughout the city,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “The new Vistas del Puerto development reflects this commitment — providing 48 permanent homes, many supportive services and access to nearby transportation for residents in our Midtown community.” 

The event, attended by City officials and staff, state and federal leaders and representatives from partner organizations, included a ceremonial grand opening for the four-story, mixed-use development located at 1836 Locust Ave. The project features 48 affordable units for lower-income households earning between 30 and 60 percent of the area median income. Half of the apartments will be reserved for individuals who may require specialized services, including people with chronic health conditions and individuals who have experienced or are experiencing homelessness. 

The project consists of a range of one- to three-bedroom apartments, several resident amenities and courtyard areas, a rooftop terrace with panoramic views, and two available commercial spaces that will prioritize local small businesses that have been displaced by the pandemic. On-site resident services include mental health support, substance abuse counseling, employment preparation, life skills workshops and more. The innovative building design incorporates sustainable features for enhanced energy efficiency.  

“Vistas del Puerto is a wonderful addition to the Sixth District community and we are honored to welcome new families to the neighborhood,” said Councilwoman Suely Saro. “This modern development provides much-needed quality, affordable homes and will connect residents to vital services and workplaces in Long Beach and beyond.” 

In February 2018, The LBCIC approved a gap financing loan of approximately $3.02 million to Clifford Beers Housing, a local nonprofit developer, to support the development of Vistas del Puerto.  

“The LBCIC stands strong in its commitment to partnering with both public and private entities to help bring more housing options to Long Beach neighborhoods,” said The LBCIC Chair Mary Castro. “This is our third affordable housing development with Clifford Beers Housing and we strive to continue this important work throughout the city.” 

Awarded Best Permanent Supportive Housing Development by the Southern California Association of Nonprofit Housing, Vistas del Puerto is one of several new affordable housing developments recently completed or currently underway in Long Beach. In November 2021, the City celebrated the groundbreaking of Anaheim & Walnut, a new 88-unit affordable housing community in Cambodia Town. 

Founded in 2005, Clifford Beers Housing develops affordable, sustainable and integrated housing and commercial spaces that enhance the lives of individuals, families, businesses and communities. 

“Vistas del Puerto Apartments serve as a template for a new kind of holistic development,” said Executive Director and CEO of Clifford Beers Housing Cristian Ahumada. “This project was designed to solve for a multitude of crises including homelessness, racial inequity, climate change and economic fallout from the pandemic. We need to take a proactive approach to address the urgent needs facing our communities and planet. We’ve got big plans for 2022!” 

For more information on the City’s affordable housing efforts, 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 and Human Services; 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 andYouTube. 

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 Company (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.