PRESS RELEASE

The City of Long Beach, in partnership with the Long Beach Community Investment Company (LBCIC) and LINC Housing Corporation (LINC), today celebrated the groundbreaking of The Spark at Midtown (The Spark), a 95-unit affordable housing development in Midtown Long Beach.

“Long Beach’s efforts to address and expand affordable housing opportunities across all parts of the City continues to be a priority,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “The Spark will provide affordable homes, address homelessness and further promote the revitalization of the Long Beach Boulevard corridor.”

The event, featuring ceremonial shovels used by City and Los Angeles County elected officials and representatives from partner agencies, was held on the vacant lot at 1900 – 1940 Long Beach Blvd. where the five-story apartment project will be built.

The Spark will feature a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units for individuals and families earning between 30 and 60 percent of the area median income, including 47 units reserved for households experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness. The development will also offer 12,388 square feet of ground floor retail, including a new YMCA Youth Institute, a Mental Health America of Los Angeles café for workforce training, and a Dignity Health St. Mary Medical Center health clinic.

“We are thrilled to see construction underway and new affordable housing coming to Midtown,” said Vice Mayor Dee Andrews, who represents the City Council’s Sixth District where the project is located. “I’m thankful for the exceptional partnership with LINC Housing in creating this terrific development!”

Residents will have access to over 11,000 square feet of common open space and residential amenities will include a 3,700-square-foot community room with a kitchen and dining area, a community garden, and a dedicated space for an after-school program for school-age residents.

“The Long Beach Community Investment Company is proud to support The Spark and we are grateful for the many contributions of our partners,” said Board Chair John Thomas. “This development illustrates the commitment of the LBCIC to help provide quality, affordable housing for the most vulnerable segments of our community.”

In October 2017, the LBCIC approved an agreement to convey the project property to LINC, a nonprofit housing developer, and approved a total loan of $3 million to provide gap financing for the development of The Spark. 

For more information on the City’s affordable housing and assistance programs, visit http://lbds.info and click on “Housing and Community Improvement.”

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, Parks, Recreation and Marine, Development Services and more. The City also has a highly-respected university and city college, two historic ranchos, five hospitals, five golf courses, 171 parks, miles of beaches, marinas, bike paths, and a Bike Share program.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit http://longbeach.gov/. 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 award-winning Long Beach Development Services 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 www.lbds.info. “Like” our Facebook page and “follow” us on Twitter. For more information on the City’s affordable housing developments, go to http://lbds.info/housing_and_community_improvement/default.asp.

About the Long Beach Community Investment Company (LBCIC)

In pursuit of the City’s goals to eliminate blight, create economic opportunities, provide affordable housing, and revitalize neighborhoods, The LBCIC advises the Long Beach 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.

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