Jul 13Dedicating Levine Senior Community in Los Angeles
Los Angeles’s Pico Robertson neighborhood is known for its walkable boulevards, kosher delis, and its close proximity to world-class museums. Now, it’s also the site of 48 new affordable, service-enriched homes for seniors at the Howard and Irene Levine Senior Community.
Named for philanthropists and housing advocates Howard and Irene Levine, whose son David Levine, pictured below, spoke at the dedication event, this new Mercy Housing California (MHC) community provides much-needed affordable homes for seniors, including senior veterans who have experienced homelessness in Los Angeles.
“Howard Levine played an indispensable role on the Mercy Housing California board, helping us expand our impact particularly in Los Angeles,” said MHC President Doug Shoemaker at the dedication event for the Levine Senior Community, which took place in the building’s sunlit courtyard in April. “As a couple, I can’t imagine a more passionate set of supporters than Howard and Irene.”
Formerly known as “Pico Robertson Senior Community,” Levine Senior Community addresses a significant need for affordable housing in Los Angeles, where seniors are among the groups at highest risk of experiencing homelessness. Residents have access to a wide range of amenities in the resource-rich neighboring community, as well as free onsite resident services provided by Mercy Housing and partner organization New Directions for Veterans.
“Levine Senior Community is a place of comfort and security for older Angelenos,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti, who spoke at the dedication. “This project brings us one step closer to the future we all want to see, a future when everyone goes to sleep at night with a roof over their heads because in L.A. we believe that no fight is more critical than our fight to end homelessness.”
MHC engaged in extensive community outreach while developing Levine Senior Community, and the participation and support of local organizations enabled the project to be responsive to the needs of the immediate neighborhood. Guided by community priorities and galvanized by the leadership of Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Koretz, MHC incorporated 34 new public parking spaces into the design to support nearby businesses, in addition to replacing the 39 existing parking spaces at the site.
“The dedication of Levine Senior Community shows what’s possible when neighbors, developers, and the City of Los Angeles work together to address the affordable housing crisis in a way that centers community input,” said Councilmember Koretz.
Enjoy photos of the building and dedication here.
Mercy Housing California thanks our partners at Levine Senior Community:
ARCHITECT: Killefer Flammang Architects
CONTRACTOR: Dreyfuss Construction
PARTNERS AND FUNDERS: New Directions for Veterans, Bank of America, the California Department of Veterans Affairs, the California Department of Housing and Community Development, Los Angeles Department of Transportation, and the Los Angeles Housing Department.
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