A modular housing unit traveled roughly 70 miles from Perris to Altadena on Monday, marking the start of construction for a 14-unit rental development aimed at low-income residents.
The nearly 500-square-foot unit is the first component of the project on East Pine Street in West Altadena, where previous courtyard apartments were destroyed in the Eaton Fire. Candice Kim, project director of the Altadena Builds Back Foundation, described the arrival by saying, “The stork delivered our big baby today… it’s kind of like hope on wheels.”
Kim noted that the choice of modular construction was intended to speed up the process. She stated that it “allowed us to create the rental housing much faster so we can get people back home faster,” according to reporting by LAist.
A lottery scheduled for October will determine which eligible applicants receive the units. Interested parties can join the developer’s “Pine Notification List” to receive updates on the selection process.
The property owner chose to sell after the fire but required that the site continue to serve low-income tenants. The Altadena Builds Back Foundation assembled nearly $6 million for the effort, drawing from donations received by the Pasadena Community Foundation and a contribution from philanthropist Molly Munger.
Project supporters view the development as a way to preserve the area’s economic and racial diversity amid broader rebuilding. Kim expressed concern that “if we have private developers come in, the concern is that rents will no longer be affordable, and that could change the character of our community.”
This report is based on coverage by LAist: https://laist.com/news/housing-homelessness/first-modular-unit-delivered-for-altadena-low-income-rental-complex