PRESS RELEASE

Photo from groundbreaking ceremony. From left to right: Oscar Alvarado, Vice President, Housing, Century Affordable Development, Inc.;  Karen Calderon, Field Representative, Office of Congressman Alan Lowenthal, 47^th District; Anna Topolewski, Housing Operations Officer, Housing Authority of the City of Long Beach; Kelly Colopy, Director, Long Beach Health and Human Services Department; Mary Castro, Chair, The Long Beach Community Investment Company; Robert Garcia, Mayor, City of Long Beach; Ronald Griffith, President & CEO, Century Affordable Development, Inc.; Brian D’Andrea, President, Century Affordable Development, Inc.; Yvonne Burke, Chair, Century Housing Corporation Board of Directors; Paul Buckland, Managing Director & Regional Equity Manager – Tax Credit Investment Group, Wells Fargo Community Lending and Investment; Chris Larkin, Senior Project Manager, Century Affordable Development, Inc.; Lori Willis, Division Chief – Program Development, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health.

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach today joined with nonprofit developer Century Affordable Development, Inc. (Century) and other partner organizations to celebrate the groundbreaking of The Cove, a new affordable housing development located at the 27-acre Century Villages at Cabrillo community in West Long Beach. The development will offer 89 affordable studios for veterans who have very low-income, earning 30-60% of area median income, and veterans who are experiencing homelessness.

“This project reflects our commitment to creating housing for all Long Beach residents,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “The Cove is another great addition to Century Villages at Cabrillo that will provide 89 permanent homes and services to help ensure the security, dignity and well-being of our veterans.”

The morning event, attended by City and Century officials as well as representatives from local and federal partner agencies, including The Long Beach Community Investment Company (LBCIC) and the Housing Authority of the City of Long Beach (HACLB), featured a ceremonial groundbreaking for the four-story apartment complex to be located at 2121 W. Williams St.

The Cove will feature a common space area, consisting of a visitor’s lobby, computer room, study area, classroom, community room and bicycle storage as well as a courtyard. The project will also include one unrestricted manager’s unit. Residents will have access to a variety of supportive services through Century Villages at Cabrillo and a network of 30 service providers, including U.S. VETS and the local Veterans Administration.

The project is slated for completion in late 2023 with anticipated occupancy in spring 2024. For eligibility and leasing information, individuals may visit centuryvillages.org.

“The Cove is a wonderful project that will add to all that Villages at Cabrillo has to offer for our veterans in need,” said Councilmember Roberto Uranga. “We are very grateful to Century for their partnership and investment in the Seventh District community and in our veterans.” 

Since 2020, more than 880 affordable units have been completed or are currently under construction or proposed throughout the city. In April, the City’s comprehensive Housing Element update, which guides the City’s policies and programs related to housing through 2029, was certified by the State. Earlier this year in Midtown, the City celebrated the groundbreaking of Long Beach Senior, a 67-unit affordable housing development for older individuals and veterans who have experienced homelessness; and commemorated the grand opening of nearby Vistas del Puerto, a new 47-unit affordable housing project.

In February 2022, The LBCIC approved a $4 million loan to provide gap financing for The Cove. Additionally, HACLB awarded the project 60 project-based Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers for prospective residents.

“The LBCIC is proud to continue investing in supportive housing communities like The Cove that create safe, healthy environments for our beloved veterans,” said The LBCIC Chair Mary Castro. “This development demonstrates our commitment to an array of housing options that honor the city’s diverse population.”

Century is an award-winning affordable housing organization participating in the development, preservation, management and/or financing of affordable, program-enriched housing with a long history of investing in Long Beach. In 2017, the City and Century celebrated the grand opening of Anchor Place at Century Villages at Cabrillo, a 120-unit supportive housing project for extremely low-income households and veterans experiencing homelessness; and in 2015, Cabrillo Gateway was completed, providing 80 affordable homes for families and individuals with mental health disabilities.

“Century is immensely grateful for our partnership with the City of Long Beach in addressing the needs of our nation’s veterans, in particular those experiencing homelessness. The Cove will expand upon housing opportunities for veterans at the Villages at Cabrillo by providing 89 dignified, supportive homes for those that have valiantly served our country,” said Century Housing Senior Vice President Brian D’ Andrea.

For more information on the City’s affordable housing efforts, visit the Long Beach Development Services Department 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 and YouTube. 

About Long Beach Development Services
Serving residents, businesses and the community at large, the award-winning Long Beach Development Services Department sets a standard for high-quality, innovative urban planning and livability efforts that create more progressive and sustainable communities within the diverse City of Long Beach, CA. Through a variety of development, code enforcement, housing and neighborhood services and building activities, the Department builds a better future for the city while also honoring its unique past. For more information, visit longbeach.gov/lbds. Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.