Las Flores offers 73 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments at 1834-1848 14th Street
By Sam Catanzaro
Community Corp. of Santa Monica and local elected officials celebrated the grand opening of Las Flores, a new affordable housing complex, during a ceremony on March 10.
The four-story building, located at 1834-1848 14th Street in the Pico neighborhood, offers a total of 73 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. The complex also features a below-grade garage that provides parking for both residents and commercial users.
“Today marks a tremendous milestone in our City’s commitment to providing housing security and stability to our entire community. I’m proud to stand with all of you to open 73 new homes at Las Flores, our newest affordable housing development in Santa Monica. This development ensures that everyone in our City has access to safe and affordable housing, and I’m proud to be a partner in making this a reality,” said Gleam Davis, Mayor of Santa Monica
Las Flores offers a variety of amenities, including a playground, a community garden, a community room with a kitchen, a gym, a wellness studio, and an outdoor picnic area. Designed by DE Architects, the building features a unique series of offset cubic masses, which were described in a staff report to the Santa Monica Architectural Review as “a concept of solids and voids.” The primary exterior finish of the building is made of corrugated metal panels.
“We’re thrilled to be able to open the doors to our newest affordable housing development right here in Santa Monica and provide much needed housing for those in need” said Tara Barauskas, Executive Director of Community Corp. “This development is another example of our commitment to providing quality, affordable housing to our local community, and we are proud of the impact this project will have on the lives of its residents.”
The Las Flores development was planned to meet LEED Platinum standards and features Energy Star appliances, EV charging stations, and solar panels. Community Corp. was able to benefit from the state bill AB 1763, which eased zoning restrictions regarding height, density, and parking for qualified affordable housing developments. Prior to the passage of this legislation, the project was envisioned as a smaller three-story, 55-unit apartment building.
