The beachfront city of Santa Monica, California, with its stylishly laid-back restaurants and hotels, plus freeway access to downtown Los Angeles, may not seem the obvious place for affordable housing. And that's precisely why advocates began safeguarding its modestly priced options more than 30 years ago.
Today, one of the city's biggest residential landlords is a nonprofit affordable-housing organization: the Community Corporation of Santa Monica (CCSM), a developer-owner-manager with 1,575 units in 88 complexes, and more in the works. Founded in 1982 with a mission to preserve the area's economic and social diversity, the corporation enables service-sector workers to live near their jobs. CCSM has also emerged as a champion of local architectural talent, consistently engaging rising Santa Monica design practices to rehabilitate existing buildings or construct new ones.
You have 0 complimentary articles remaining.
Unlimited access + premium benefits for as low as $1.99/month.