We are thrilled to announce the grand opening of our Las Palmas Apartments project, a beautiful multifamily supportive housing development that provides 53 apartments in the Wilmington neighborhood in the City of Los Angeles. Las Palmas is an adaptive reuse project that reimagined a formerly vacant grocery store by utilizing the architectural elements in the existing building site and transforming it into dynamic housing. Las Palmas will now provide permanent supportive housing for people who have experienced homelessness.
Designed by award-winning architecture firm KFA, Las Palmas Apartments is co-developed and co-owned by Brilliant Corners and The Richman Group. The design maintains unique architectural features of the existing structure, adding in additional elements for residents including a beautiful open-air courtyard, community room, outdoor garden, bike storage area, and more amenities. The site provides fully furnished apartments.
“The development of Las Palmas was an intensive, collaborative effort, and we’re so proud of the work from our team, our development partners, and municipal leaders to see this essential community to the finish line,” said Rick Westberg, Executive Vice President at The Richman Group — co-developer, co-owners and on-site property manager for Las Palmas. “The redevelopment of this site required the cooperation and support of numerous organizations, city departments and offices, but the results speak for themselves and represent an important step toward addressing the local affordable and supportive housing need.”
“The opening of Las Palmas Apartments marks a significant milestone for Brilliant Corners, representing our first multifamily permanent supportive housing development in LA County,” said William F. Pickel, Chief Executive Officer at Brilliant Corners. “Through adaptive reuse projects like Las Palmas, we are utilizing the existing built environment to provide much-needed housing and supportive services to our new residents. We are immensely grateful to our partners and everyone who made this project possible.”
Las Palmas Apartments’ Grand Opening event was held on September 27, 2024, featuring Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who represents the Wilmington neighborhood. Supervisor Hahn provided a proclamation in honor of the site opening, and Lynn Katano, Director of the Housing Investment and Finance Division for the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA), presented a certificate to mark the opening. Attendees also heard remarks from Brilliant Corners Chief Operating Officer, Chris Contreras and The Richman Group’s Executive Vice President, Rick Westberg. The opening event also featured an opportunity for attendees to write welcome cards for the building’s new residents, and a tour of the site.
“For dozens of people who have reached the end of their ropes and find themselves living on our streets, this place is going to be that lifeline they so desperately need,” said Los Angeles County Fourth District Supervisor, Janice Hahn. “These 53 beautiful apartments and the welcoming environment that I know everyone here will provide is a far cry from where these residents are coming from. Here they’ll know they’re safe and, most importantly, cared about.”
“The LACDA is honored to be part of the team that contributed to the creation of 53 fully furnished housing units for individuals who have experienced homelessness,” said Emilio Salas, LACDA Executive Director. “Once a vacant, single-story grocery store, Las Palmas Apartments now offers beautiful housing with access to transportation to help its residents manage their everyday needs.”
“The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health is dedicated to supporting every person’s journey of recovery and wellbeing,” said Dr. Lisa H. Wong, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH). “Our investment in Las Palmas demonstrates our commitment to ensuring each individual in our care has a place they can call their own, and a community to call home while they start new chapters of their lives with renewed hope and support.”
We’re proud to partner on this project and grateful to our following partners: Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Los Angeles Community Development Authority, Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, Corporation for Supportive Housing, Genesis LA Economic Growth Corporation, Bank of America, California Community Reinvestment Corporation, United Way of Greater LA, LAHD – HHH (Los Angeles Housing Department), TCAC (Tax Credit Allocation Committee), CDLAC (California Debt Limit Allocation Committee).