A seven-story, micro-unit housing development is being proposed for the vacant lot on the north side of 4th Street between Elm and Linden Avenues in Downtown Long Beach. The project, as first reported by Urbanize LA, was approved by the Planning Commission earlier this year.
What, exactly, will this 4th Street micro-housing project look like?
Plans for 421 E. 4th Street call for a boldly blue, contemporary structure that plays with layers of transparency, metal, concrete, and glass led by local nonprofit design firm City Fabrick. Think painted cement plaster in Below Zero and American blues. Glass railings. Peppercorn steel railings. Vinyl windows. Textured fiber cement panels in Americana blue.
“The design responds to the adjacent context with the base of the building being raised to respond to our neighbor across the alley, and the building set back from the west side to provide residents of the adjacent senior-living community a view of our landscaped terrace,” said Chiara Bonsignori, the senior architect leading the project from City Fabrick. “The amenity deck will provide a unique outdoor space for residents while being a sort of beacon, especially in the evening when it is lit up.”
The 96 units—12 of which will be set aside for very low-income households thanks to the city’s inclusionary ordinance—will range from 325 to 505 square feet. 4,158 of outdoor common space will join some 3,993 square feet of common indoor space. 17 parking spaces will be included along with 47 spots for bicycles.
What is micro-housing—and how is it beneficial with such a small living space provided?
The benefits of micro-housing are clear: They make housing more affordable and more sustainable, particularly in costly or dense areas. Period. And the evidence is overwhelming on that. By combining living, kitchen, and sleeping areas into single spaces that span roughly 300 to 500 square feet, costs on production per unit can be cut by 20% to 30%. It also deeply maximizes the ability to accommodate more residents in areas that are already dense. And Downtown Long Beach is primed for that.
The result? Far more affordable spaces that appeal to young professionals, small low-income families, single parents, empty nesters, retirees, long-distance commuters, and more.
How far ahead are we looking until the completion of the 4th Street micro-housing project?
First up will be a formal site review followed by financing, construction documents, permitting, and then groundbreaking. These things take time—so it will, by no means, be quick.
The 4th Street micro-housing project is set to take over the vacant lot at 421 E. 4th Street. It currently needs to garner site approval, permitting, and capital before breaking ground.
