Dean Matsubayashi, executive director at Little Tokyo Service Center and 414 Crocker Street
A nonprofit affordable housing developer wants to build a residential complex near Little Tokyo on the site of a former rice cake factory.
Little Tokyo Service Center plans to replace the existing two-story building with 120 to 150 units of affordable housing, according to a report in Rafu Shimpo, the Japanese daily newspaper. Urbanize reported on the Rafu Shimpo story. Half of the units would be set aside for permanent supportive housing.
Little Tokyo Service Center purchased the 36,000-square-foot industrial site at 414 Crocker Street in Downtown Los Angeles. Umeya Rice Cake Company closed in 2017 after almost 100 years in business.
The new project would include 13,000 square feet of space for community programs, commercial use and supportive services. Rafu Shimpo reported the project would be the first completely affordable development in the area in more than 20 years.
A representative for Little Tokyo Service Center declined to divulge the amount the company paid.
The company is also working on two other projects in Little Tokyo. On one, it has teamed with Go For Broke National Education Center on a mixed-use project and education center near the Japanese American National Museum. The other is the Terasaki Budokan sports center on Los Angeles Street.
In East Hollywood, the nonprofit is planning a six-story project with 160 to 200 units of affordable housing at Santa Monica Boulevard. [Rafu.com] — Gregory Cornfield