PRESS RELEASE

The City of Long Beach, in partnership with its nonprofit affiliate, The Long Beach Community Investment Company (LBCIC), joined with Clifford Beers Housing today to celebrate the groundbreaking of Vistas del Puerto, a 48-unit affordable housing development in Midtown Long Beach. 

“We are committed to building more affordable housing and this project is another great step towards meeting our goals in our Everyone Home Long Beach report,” said Mayor Robert Garcia, who attended the afternoon event at 1836 Locust Ave. “Vistas del Puerto is an exceptional model of supportive housing, and it will take us further in fulfilling our goal of ending homelessness in Long Beach.”

The celebration, featuring City and Los Angeles County representatives, along with representatives from Clifford Beers and other partner agencies, was held adjacent to the property due to the active construction that is already underway at the site. The project, a five-story apartment complex consisting of two buildings, is expected to open in late 2020.

Vistas del Puerto will feature one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments for lower-income families earning between 30 and 50 percent of the area median income. Half of the apartments will be reserved for individuals with special needs, including people with chronic health conditions and individuals who have experienced or are experiencing homelessness.

“This development will bring much needed affordable, permanent supportive housing to this area and will be a great addition to our community,” said Vice Mayor Dee Andrews, who represents the City Council’s Sixth District. “I look forward to welcoming all of the new residents.”

The groundbreaking is the second hosted by Long Beach in a week. On March 20, the City celebrated the groundbreaking of The Spark at Midtown, a 95-unit affordable housing development to be built in partnership with the nonprofit LINC Housing Corporation. 

The transit-oriented Vistas del Puerto development is located less than a quarter mile from the Metro Blue Line light rail and bus lines that operate along both Long Beach Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway, which will connect residents to vital services and workplaces in Long Beach and beyond.

“The LBCIC remains committed to partnering with both public and private entities to help alleviate the local housing crisis, especially for our homeless population and families,” said John Thomas, The LBCIC Chair. “This will be The LBCIC’s third affordable housing development with Clifford Beers Housing and we hope to continue our valuable partnership.”

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.

“We share the City of Long Beach’s vision of identifying innovative solutions to the region’s housing crisis,” said Cristian Ahumada, Executive Director of Clifford Beers Housing. “With Vistas del Puerto, we are providing new hope for 48 households to stabilize their lives and leave the cycle of homelessness for good.” 

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

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 tohttp://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.

About Clifford Beers Housing

Clifford Beers Housing creates thoughtfully designed, affordable and integrated communities that enhance the lives of individuals and families that have experienced mental illness and homelessness. Founded in 2005, today Clifford Beers Housing has 459 apartment units in operation and 222 in development throughout Los Angeles County and beyond.