National CORE’s Las Dahlias Affordable Housing Community Reflects East Los Angeles’ Vibrant History

Watch a video of the grand opening

East Los Angeles, Calif. – Las Dahlias, National CORE’s newest affordable housing community, delivers 78 beautiful new homes, a community park, upgrades to bus stops, walkways and bike paths to East L.A.’s Maravilla neighborhood, along with a stunning mural that pays tribute to the community’s heritage and culture.

The property was shaped through extensive collaboration with Los Angeles County leaders and East L.A. residents, ensuring the development serves new residents and the larger community alike.

“Las Dahlias is a shining example of what happens when we come together to not only create beautiful affordable housing for our residents but to foster a deep connection with the broader community,” National CORE President Michael Ruane said. “Without the County of Los Angeles and East L.A. residents, we would not be celebrating this wonderful development.”

Las Dahlias will contribute to Los Angeles County’s ongoing push to combat the affordable housing crisis. Across the region, home prices are a whopping 10 times average income, according to a report from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. Renters need about three times the minimum wage to afford the average monthly rent of $2,498, according to the county’s Affordable Housing Needs Report.

Going hand in hand with the rising housing costs, homelessness continues to be especially critical in Los Angeles County, with 75,312 people experiencing homelessness in the region, according to the 2024 Point-in-Time census.

Las Dahlias features a mix of studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments for individuals and families earning under 60% of the area median income. Thirty-nine apartments serve individuals and families who have experienced homelessness.

The property was composed of several vacant parcels owned by Los Angeles County and the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA). The county envisioned the property for transit-oriented development as part of the Third Street Specific Plan and selected National CORE in 2019 to lead the redevelopment effort.

“Las Dahlias is another tangible example of our continued commitment to work with partners who share our mission to address the chronic lack of affordable housing in low- and middle-income neighborhoods where the need is most acute, and we have arrived at this moment today as a result of robust community engagement,” Supervisor Hilda L. Solis said.

“Las Dahlias blends much-needed affordable housing and public transportation resources together – and will also incorporate the work of East L.A. artists – that will help advance our efforts to build new economic foundations that can jumpstart entire neighborhoods, especially in historically underserved areas, and achieve greater housing equity and economic opportunity,” Solis said.

Las Dahlias is conveniently located along the Metro E line, connecting residents to job opportunities in Santa Monica, downtown Los Angles and the San Gabriel Valley.

National CORE and its partners obtained a $9.4 million grant through the California Strategic Growth Council’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) program dedicated to community improvements.

As a result, residents receive free METRO bus passes and have access to a bike repair program in addition to neighborhood investments, including 10 eco-friendly buses, improved bus stops, new walkways and bikeways – with the goal of encouraging residents to use alternative modes of transportation rather than relying on a personal vehicle.

“By helping residents get everywhere they need to go without having to drive, Las Dahlias will not only provide affordable housing, but also cleaner air, healthier lifestyles and climate resilience for current and future generations of Angelenos in East L.A.,” said Marc Caswell, AHSC program manager for the Strategic Growth Council. “We are proud to be a partner in this work to create a more equitable and sustainable future for all Californians.”

Las Dahlias residents enjoy an array of amenities, such as a community center and rooftop verandas. National CORE was successful in purchasing an additional piece of land to expand the development’s footprint, using the additional space as a pocket park available to the entire neighborhood.

A forecourt plaza displays an amazing mural honoring the hardworking community members of East Los Angeles.

“In addition to providing much needed affordable housing in the heart of East Los Angeles, Las Dahlias Apartments is also a prime example of a development that considered not only the needs of its residents but also the composition of the surrounding community,” LACDA Executive Director Emilio Salas said. “The inclusion of a mural that pays tribute to the heritage and culture of East Los Angeles combined with the amenities provided to residents – including a community center with a technology lab, office space for resident services and a landscaped courtyard – has truly brought the beauty of its namesake to the neighborhood.”

The property opened in July as the latest addition to National CORE’s portfolio of developments serving Los Angeles County residents. National CORE operates 28 properties across the county, providing 2,030 affordable apartment homes. Nine more communities are in development.

Residents at Las Dahlias will benefit from a slate of enrichment programs provided by the Hope through Housing Foundation and community partners, including financial coaching, health and wellness activities and student mentorship.

“We are committed to providing tools to our residents so they can strengthen their finances and pursue new dreams and goals for the future,” Hope through Housing Vice President Alyssa Cotter said. “Alongside our partners, we want to foster community and connect residents with the resources they need to flourish.”

Residents who have experienced homelessness receive comprehensive case management services from PATH, designed to help support housing stability and provide independent living skills.

“Housing communities like Las Dahlias that provide supportive services, crisis intervention and individualized case management are key to helping our unhoused neighbors find stability and build the skills they need to thrive,” said Will Taylor, director of permanent supportive Housing for PATH. “We are looking forward to welcoming individuals and families to their new homes.”

National CORE, one of the industry’s pioneers of high-performance affordable housing, built Las Dahlias using an all-electric design that combines high-efficiency heat pump technologies, an energy-saving building envelope and rooftop photovoltaic energy systems. Las Dahlias is anticipated to receive a LEED for Gold certification or better.

This development received financial support from the LACDA, the California Growth Council, Hudson Housing Capital, Chase Bank, the California Tax-Credit Allocation Committee, the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee, the Federal Loan Bank of San Francisco and Century Housing.

“We are incredibly proud to support National CORE as they continue to be a driving force in the creation of affordable housing for Los Angeles and across California,” said Rosalind Ross, vice president of community development banking at Chase Bank. “Affordable Housing with access to community space and services, like financial coaching, is essential to ensure our residents thrive.”

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About National CORE

National CORE is one of the largest nonprofit developers in the nation, with a 30-year history of being an innovator in the field. In 2021, National CORE became one of only two affordable housing developers to earn an A+ credit rating from Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings. In 2022, National CORE issued $100 million in Series 2022 Social Bonds to accelerate the development of critically needed affordable housing. Serving more than 25,000 residents, National CORE strives to be a launching pad, not a landing pad, for families struggling financially. In 1998, National CORE created the Hope through Housing Foundation, a philanthropic nonprofit, whose mission is to end the cycle of generational poverty through resident services that promote educational attainment, economic mobility, and overall well-being.

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