Los Angeles elected officials and homeless service providers gathered June 19 to celebrate the opening of a new 19-story shelter in downtown’s Skid Row, the epicenter of the city’s homeless crisis. Known as the Weingart Towers, the first of two opened, boasting 228 studio apartments and 50 one-bedroom units—with three set aside for onsite managers. “This is not just a building, this is about people .
.. this is about giving people dignity and respect,” Kevin Murray, president and CEO of the Weingart Center Association—a nonprofit offering homeless services, which owns the building—said during the building’s unveiling.
Located at 555 S. Crocker Street, the building known as Tower I will soon welcome homeless individuals, with leasing details now available on Weingart’s website. Direct referrals from nonprofits will also help with placement, including The People Concern, Midnight Mission, the Veterans Administration and more.
The developer describes the new offerings as “high-quality apartment living” and has set aside 40 units for veterans, according to its website. Each room comes fully furnished with a television and includes a full kitchen, private bathroom, heating and cooling, and access to all amenities including a gym and library. The 13-story Tower 2 is in development on S.
San Pedro Street, directly behind Tower 1, and will feature 103 studio units, also for the homeless. An expected opening date isn’t listed online, and the company didn’t imm.
