Sunnyside Grand Opening
From left to right: Holos’ Director of Real Estate Development, Matt Schauer; Redstone Equity’s VP of Acquisitions, Irene choi; City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson; RNLA CEO John Perfitt; HACLA Assistant Director of Section 8 Special Programs, Christina Frausto-Lupo; and GenesisLA President and CEO, Tom De Simone. Additional photos from the event can be found here.
Holos Communities, in partnership with Restore Neighborhoods LA (RNLA), is thrilled to announce the grand opening of Sunnyside Apartments. Holos’ Director of Real Estate Development, Matt Schauer, was joined by RNLA CEO John Perfitt, City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, HACLA Assistant Director of Section 8 Special Programs, Christina Frausto-Lupo, President and CEO of Genesis LA, Tom De Simone, and Senior Vice President of Acquisitions at Red Stone Equity, Irene Choi, to celebrate the ceremonial grand opening on September 3rd. Sunnyside transformed a 6000 sq/ft vacant lot, the size of a typical single-family home plot, into an apartment building with 26 studio apartments for previously unhoused individuals.
“Sunnyside is the quintessential example of the huge impact a small lot could have, and the key is siting next to public transportation along a major arterial. Let’s keep the low-density integrity of single family neighborhoods in suburbia, and go up where it makes sense, next to transit. These sites are crucial to expanding our housing stock. Instead of housing one or two families on this site, twenty-six individuals will now be able to call Sunnyside their new home,” said Cristian Ahumada, Holos Communities’ Executive Director.
Sunnyside is one of two projects that Holos Communities is developing with Restore Neighborhoods Los Angeles. Sunnyside represents a cross collaboration between the public, private and non-profit sectors, proving that such partnerships are possible, and necessary, to bring projects like Sunnyside to life.
“Sunnyside shows how strong partnerships can unlock underdeveloped land to create much‑needed housing in our communities,” said Lourdes Castro Ramirez, President & CEO of HACLA. “Located in the heart of South Los Angeles, Sunnyside will provide 26 permanent supportive homes—safe, stable places with services that help residents thrive. By leveraging $11.8M through HACLA’s Section 8 program alongside public and private investments, we’re delivering opportunity and dignity through housing.”
The project contains HHH Innovation dollars as well as Section 8 from the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles. By leveraging these dollars, Holos and RNLA were able to secure Low Income Housing Tax Credits and bring the project to completion.
"Sunnyside Apartments is a great example of what we can accomplish when we put people and community needs first,” said Marqueece Harris-Dawson, City Council President and CD8 representative. “A vacant, underutilized lot that had become a neighborhood nuisance is now 26 new homes for Angelenos who have experienced homelessness. This project shows what’s possible when public, private, and nonprofit partners work together to invest in housing solutions and smart land use that benefit communities."
Sunnyside, located in the heart of South Los Angeles, will provide 26 permanent supportive housing units. Each unit will be fully furnished with high-efficiency fixtures and appliances. A live-in manager and on-site social services, provided by HOPICS, will provide residents with support and community connections. The four-story building features secure gated entry, abundant natural light for energy savings, and native landscaping to create shaded, private outdoor areas. Amenities include a community room, long-term bike parking, and a rooftop deck. This deck will include planters for edible gardens, to relieve resident’s food insecurity, something that has never been needed more than at a time when SNAP benefits are being significantly cut.