6th Street Place, a unique community in the Skid Row neighborhood, is changing the narrative of homelessness. This innovative development, located in the heart of Los Angeles, is not just about providing 93 affordable homes. It’s about offering a new beginning. Its modular construction technology and free onsite services are a sign of hope, promoting stability and wellness for those experiencing homelessness.

In early May, we gathered with our partners and 6th Street Place’s new residents to celebrate the dedication of this striking new community.

“Despite the challenges many of its residents have endured, Skid Row is home to a vibrant community of artists, activists, and service providers, and it is our hope that 6th Street Place will come to represent proud new beginnings for residents as well as their neighbors,” said Ed Holder, Vice President of Real Estate Development for Mercy Housing California. “Angelenos experiencing homelessness deserve dignified, permanent housing opportunities, and we are grateful to our partners for stepping up to help us meet this urgent need.”

Delivering Solutions for Homelessness

Mercy Housing California’s (MHC’s) use of offsite modular construction for 6th Street Place was not just about cost efficiency, it was about delivering a solution to homelessness quickly and precisely. Apartments were assembled in an offsite factory and then stacked together, bringing more predictability and time savings to the development process. The building was framed in weeks – a process that can stretch to months in traditional stick-built construction. Onsite amenities include a lobby, recreational space, a community room, generous bike storage, property management and resident services offices, and a courtyard.

The building façade of 6th Street Place is not just a structure; it’s a symbol of transformation. Soon, it will be adorned with significant public art, a testament to the vibrant creative community of Skid Row. The revered “Skid Row City Limit” mural, a symbol of the community’s resilience and creativity, is being recreated. MHC has facilitated meetings with local artists and activists, enlisting some of the same artists who had partnered with the late General Jeff on the mural to repaint it in its original location after the close of construction. Additionally, a prominent front-facing wall will soon feature a projected scroll showing artworks created by 6th Street Place residents and their neighbors.

Award Winning Permanent Supportive Housing Community

6th Street Place has already been recognized with a Downtown Los Angeles Rose Award for Permanent Supportive Housing from the Downtown Breakfast Club. The development is the first of three Los Angeles County developments MHC is scheduled to unveil in 2024. Heritage Gardens, a senior community in Long Beach, will open its doors this summer and will be followed by 3552 Whittier Boulevard, another permanent supportive housing community built using modular construction in Boyle Heights.

Mercy Housing California thanks our outstanding partners for helping us bring 6th Street Place to life and welcomes the community’s residents to their new homes.