The new mixed-use development will deliver 180 affordable homes for seniors and families, retail stores, a transit plaza, and a Metro training facility. Co-developers BRIDGE Housing, the Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD), and Primestor Development came together to address the needs of a historically marginalized and under-resourced neighborhood, where 78% of residents earn low to moderate incomes.
Since 2018, the development team has engaged deeply with the community to create a shared vision for the site, including its name: “Evermont.” The name was chosen to honor the evolving legacy of South Los Angeles and celebrate a future of new possibilities. Construction at Evermont is anticipated to be completed in 2024.
The residential component, led by BRIDGE Housing and CRCD, consists of Vista@Evermont, which will offer 62 permanent supportive housing apartments for seniors who have experienced chronic homelessness, and Luminus@Evermont, which will feature 118 affordable homes for families with low incomes, including 60 permanent supportive housing units. Permanent supportive housing combines affordable housing with wraparound health, behavioral health, and social services to serve people who have experienced chronic homelessness.
On the ground level, retail partner Primestor is creating more than 64,000 square feet of commercial space that will be anchored by Target and will include additional complementary retail use, with a focus on local businesses. The retail and commercial space will generate an estimated 155 full-time jobs; in the meantime, through a local-hire program, the construction of Evermont itself will provide an estimated 120 new job and training opportunities for the local workforce.
“Evermont is a promise kept to the surrounding communities of Vermont and Manchester that I am proud to represent,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell. “Reaching the construction stage has been a herculean lift and true collaboration that exemplifies the strength in public-private partners. As these buildings rise from the ground, we are not only creating physical spaces that will redefine our communities, we are also investing in good paying jobs and sustainable community development that will directly impact the lives of our residents.”
Mark Wilson, President and CEO, Coalition for Responsible Community Development, said: “30 years after the LA Civil Unrest, we are excited to be a partner in the development team bringing affordable and permanent supportive housing and services to the Vermont Manchester project. CRCD is committed to providing resources and revitalizing neglected communities in South Los Angeles. As a South LA native and local nonprofit leader, CRCD will be responsive to the community through active engagement and providing quality, affordable housing, and support services so residents can thrive.”
“Evermont will deliver a quality solution that includes affordable and permanent supportive housing with the services people need to thrive,” said Ken Lombard, President and CEO of BRIDGE Housing. “In keeping with our mission, Evermont goes beyond housing to provide the retail, transit, educational opportunities and jobs that lift up neighborhoods. We’re proud to team up on this innovative development that will create benefits for generations to come.”
“Primestor was founded 30 years ago as a response to the 1992 Civil Unrest; and for those last 30 years, the land at this intersection has been a reminder to the community of those traumatic days, and its aftermath,” said Leandro Tyberg, President and Co-Founder, Primestor Development. “Being a part of the Evermont development is a sincere honor and privilege, as well as a tremendous responsibility. We are committed to doing our part to help our underserved communities have home-grown leadership, self-representation, safety, unprecedented opportunity and access to meaningful jobs, essential retail services, and quality housing.”
Located along the Vermont Corridor, the site is home to the second busiest transit stop in the entire Metro system. Additional key features of the development include a new, landscaped public transit plaza located on Vermont Avenue, plus improved pedestrian and cycling connections to other community facilities. The future LEED Certified facilities will be connected by a 22,000-square-foot plaza with a five-story parking structure to serve both commercial and residential tenants.
Financial partners include JPMorgan Chase Bank, Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA), County of Los Angeles Measure H, Citibank N.A., Los Angeles Housing Department (LAHD) Proposition HHH, California Department of Housing & Community Development (HCD), US Bank Trust Company, National Association, Enterprise Community Investment, California Strategic Growth Council, Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, Genesis LA, Los Angeles Development Fund, and TELACU.
Evermont was designed by TCA Architects and Walker Consultants and the general contractor is Suffolk. Oversight and construction management for the 4.1-acre development site is being provided by international construction consultants, Cumming Group.
Earlier, the first phase of construction saw the development of the SEED School of Los Angeles, the county’s first public charter boarding school that prepares students for careers in transportation infrastructure, STEM, and the humanities. The school broke ground in October 2020 and will welcome its inaugural class in August 2022.
For more information, visit www.evermontsouthla.com and follow @evermontsouthla on Instagram and Facebook, or contact Community Outreach Director Claudia Cardenas at claudia@primestor.com or 213.223.5526.
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STAKEHOLDER QUOTES
Tom DeSimone, President & CEO, Genesis LA: “Every neighborhood deserves quality goods and services that enhance the community and address vital needs. For too long, South LA has been promised these assets, but rarely have they been delivered. Genesis LA is proud to be a part of making the Evermont project a reality and we hope it is the beginning of more investment in this community.”
Sandra Rahimi, Manager, Los Angeles Development Fund: “I am proud to say that the Vermont and Manchester transaction represents the second time LADF has provided financing for a Primestor project. Primestor is a great developer that works closely with the community and local businesses to ensure that their retail centers provide access to the commercial goods and services that these underserved communities need and want.”
Jose Villalobos, Senior VP, TELACU: “Established in East Los Angeles in 1968 as a pioneering institution committed to service, empowerment and the creation of self-sufficiency, TELACU is proud to make this New Markets Tax Credit investment into Evermont, a transformative development that will bring needed retail services and economic opportunities to this severely distressed and chronically underserved community in South LA.”
Cécile Chalifour, Managing Director, Community Development Banking, Chase: “We’re proud to provide financing to support the development of the Evermont, a particularly complex project with three separate developments which will bring affordable housing to our community’s families and local seniors who are in need of a steady roof over their heads, especially in these uncertain times. By working with industry leaders like BRIDGE Housing and Primestor, we’re able to help communities like Vermont & Manchester build a future that addresses the need for affordable housing, but also provides essential services and creates sustainable transportation links that will be critical to help this neighborhood grow and thrive.”
Gustavo Velasquez, Director, California Department of Housing and Community Development: “HCD is proud to be a small part of this giant accomplishment by providing funding from several programs we administer. We commend all parties involved for their collaboration and commitment to provide quality affordable housing for those who need it. In addition, we’re excited to see future residents will also have the supportive services they require in a project that supports the state’s greenhouse gas reduction goals and creates healthier, more livable communities for Californians near the amenities they need.”
Lynn von Koch-Liebert, Executive Director, California Strategic Growth Council: “The Evermont affordable housing development provides a wonderful example of the sustainable and integrated development that can be achieved through innovative partnerships. These homes will be affordable, near transit, and will feature amenities that the community can enjoy. Congratulations to BRIDGE, CRCD, Primestor and all the project partners for getting the project to this point, ready for construction.”
Richard Gerwitz, Managing Director, Citi Community Capital: “Citi Community Capital is excited to be a part of the Evermont financing team, and applauds BRIDGE, Los Angeles County, the City of Los Angeles and the State of California for using their resources to advance such a meaningful project. The project is an extraordinary achievement that will transform a neighborhood and revitalize the surrounding community.”
Philip Porter, Vice President, Originator, Housing Credit Investments, Enterprise: “Enterprise is grateful for the opportunity to invest with BRIDGE, CRCD and Primestor on this important redevelopment which will bring housing and valuable services including a transit hub and a grocery store to a community that is still healing after the uprising in the early 1990s.”
Ken Summers, General Manager of Suffolk Los Angeles: “Suffolk is committed to delivering much-needed housing to residents across Los Angeles as efficiently as possible. We’re proud to contribute our construction expertise to such an important project that’s helping to drive equitable change in South Los Angeles and beyond.”
Mike Harvey, Project Manager, Cumming Group: “As the Vermont Manchester Transit Priority Project reaches this momentous stage, we are excited to bring this much-needed affordable housing and retail space to life to help support the local community. This project has been a beacon not only for the community, but us as an organization as well. We hope collaborative projects like this continue to bring together communities, local governments, and private developers so we can serve as shepherds in revitalizing our neighborhoods.”
Wini Wang, NCARB, LEED AP Associate Principal, Studio Director, TCA: “TCA is honored to be part of the design process to help create a vibrant neighborhood hub, a place to celebrate both daily and momentous occasions together as a community, and for many individuals and families, a place to call home.”
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About BRIDGE Housing
BRIDGE Housing’s mission is to strengthen communities and improve the lives of residents, beginning–but not ending–with affordable housing. A leading nonprofit developer and owner of affordable housing, BRIDGE creates and manages a range of high-quality, affordable homes for families and seniors in California, Oregon and Washington. Since it was founded in 1983, BRIDGE has participated in the development of more than 18,000 homes. For more information, visit www.bridgehousing.com.
About the Coalition for Responsible Community Development (CRCD)
CRCD’s overall approach is neighborhood-based community development. The nonprofit organization has a long-term commitment to improving the quality of life in South Los Angeles, focusing on youth in the community and assisting them with education, opportunities to pursue career pathways, and meeting basic needs such as adequate housing. CRCD also addresses longstanding neighborhood conditions in South Los Angeles – such as poverty, unemployment, public safety issues, and the lack of affordable housing. Since its founding in 2005 by concerned community members, CRCD has partnered in a combined investment of $125 million in South LA housing and real estate, including 370 units of permanent supportive and affordable housing, plus a community space for support services, youth programs, adult workforce development, reentry services, a drop-in center for homeless youth, and commercial space for social enterprise. Learn more at www.coalitionrcd.org
About Primestor
Primestor is a purpose-driven developer with a mission to unite, empower, and inspire communities to achieve their highest potential. The Evermont project will stimulate a local economy by creating new jobs, facilitating workforce development, and sponsoring year-round activities for the residents of the community.
Media Contacts
Primestor: Shajira Hope, T: 213-223-5539, E: shope@primestor.com
CRCD: Lisa Winkle, T: 323.897.9577, E: lwinkle@coalitionrcd.org
BRIDGE Housing: Lyn Hikida, T: 415.321.3552, E: lhikida@bridgehousing.com