By Tiffany Rider - Senior Writer

September 11, 2012 – On August 30, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the opening of Collage Apartments at 1983, 1905, 1907 and 1911 Pine Ave. in the 6th Council District. The project involved transforming three former blighted buildings with 17 units into 12 two-bedroom and two three-bedroom affordable housing units for families, furnished with new appliances, countertops, cabinetry, electrical and plumbing. “The rehabilitation of these properties provide working families with a safe and affordable place to live,” Dee Andrews, councilman in the 6th District, said in a statement. “It revitalizes the neighborhood and helps to attract and retain good residents – making Long Beach a better place to live.”

According to Long Beach Development Services, Collage Apartments feature laundry facilities, bike racks, a community room, a tot lot and a resident garden. Support services to residents of Collage Apartments include academic enrichment, a community building and family health and fitness. The lender and investor for this project was The Long Beach Housing Development Company (LBHDC) under the central housing action plan. “The LBHDC acquired these properties to further its mission in providing safe and livable neighborhoods in Long Beach,” Patrick Brown, LBHDC chair, said in a statement. “With the dissolution of the redevelopment agency and current legislation, we are extremely happy to see this project come to completion.”

The housing development company involved in the project is the nonprofit Jamboree Housing Corporation, which is committed to improving neighborhoods and providing social service activities for residents. “Collage Apartments is another great example of Jamboree’s commitment to build not only quality affordable housing but to go far beyond that to strengthen an entire neighborhood,” Laura Archuleta, president of Jamboree, said in a statement. “This development represents our ongoing commitment to the City of Long Beach and its residents.” Architects Studio One Eleven, general contractor SBI Builders and property management firm The John Stewart Company led the design and construction of the apartments. For more information, visit www.lbhdc.org.