Hayworth House Has Grand Opening on Saturday

The following is a press release from the City of West Hollywood.

The City of West Hollywood in partnership with the West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation (WHCHC) will celebrate the Grand Opening of the newly-renovated Hayworth House apartment complex at 1234 N. Hayworth Avenue in West Hollywood from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 11. Members of the West Hollywood City Council, the project’s architects from Killefer/Flammang, and the WHCHC Board of Directors will be in attendance to celebrate the opening of this unique affordable housing project. Everyone is invited to attend the Grand Opening.

The sprawling Hayworth House apartment complex was built in the 1950s. It was purchased in 2003 by a market-rate developer and slated for demolition. After years of neglect, the West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation (WHCHC) with the assistance of the City of West Hollywood purchased the property in May of 2009, so it could be preserved and turned into an affordable housing complex for low-income Seniors. Union Bank provided construction and permanent financing and equity for the project. Additional financing for the project was provided by the County of Los Angeles.

The Hayworth House is a certified Green Communities renovation which features 48 units of affordable housing for Seniors age 55 and older. Building on its experience with the Sierra Bonita Apartments, the pilot project for its Green Building Ordinance, WHCHC’s goals for the Hayworth House were to improve the relationship of the building to the street and to its neighborhood; to create community spaces for the residents; to improve accessibility for the Seniors and their guests and to introduce as many sustainable features as possible to reduce the project’s carbon footprint. Ground was broken to begin the Hayworth renovation on November 6, 2010. Chosen by lottery, the first residents began moving into the building this spring.

The project contains a new manager's office and resident services office, along with a community room which overlooks the street. New elevators improve access for those with limited mobility; green features include upgraded insulation and double-glazed windows, improved ventilation, new plumbing and energy-efficient appliances. The exterior of the building has new landscaping with seating areas for residents to enjoy the building and the neighborhood, with an accessible community garden area adjacent to the laundry and computer rooms. Each unit is unique, and much of the character has been retained, including original wooden floors.

The Grand Opening is sponsored by Union Bank. Parking for the Hayworth House Grand Opening is available at the City Municipal Lot located at 1114 N. Orange Grove Avenue. There will be a free shuttle to the Hayworth House apartments from the City Municipal Lot.

For more information, please call Barbara Hamaker, Development & Communications Manager for the West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation, at (323) 650-8771.