The Armory Arts Collective—the proposed overhaul of the National Guard Armory building where 7th Street meets Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue—is about to become a reality as construction work formally moves forward on the project.
The project, designed by Studio One Eleven, with Walton Construction serving as the general contractor, is expected to be completed in winter 2027.
Who is leading the Armory Arts Collective project?
Nonprofit affordable housing developer Linc Housing—which will be seeking historic landmark designation for the project—has officially broken ground on the 64-unit affordable housing project that will adaptively reuse the 1930 Art Deco structure while adding five stories of new residential construction beside it. The development is aimed at low-income residents age 55 and older, with units reserved for those earning between 30% and 70% of the area median income.
The project brings together two parallel ambitions Long Beach has increasingly leaned into: preserving historic structures while addressing the city’s severe housing shortage—particularly for older adults living on fixed incomes.
Inside, the project will offer 56 one-bedroom units and eight two-bedroom apartments, including one manager’s unit. Half of the apartments are being designed as fully wheelchair accessible, while several others will include features for residents with hearing or visual impairments.
But the housing itself is only part of the plan.
Why the Armory Arts Collective is an essential part of the larger development discussion surrounding Long Beach.
Mayor Rex Richardson, joined by First District Councilmember Mary Zendejas, appeared alongside project partners at the groundbreaking, framing the project as part of a broader city effort to expand affordable housing while keeping longtime residents rooted in place.
For Zendejas, whose district continues to face some of Downtown’s most visible housing and homelessness pressures, the project also carries neighborhood-level implications. Sitting beside Gumbiner Park, the development is expected to reshape a block that has long been defined by vacancy and inactivity.
“Together with the community, we have taken an important step to address homelessness in the Downtown by breaking ground on [this project,” she said in a press release. “This holistic development next to Gumbiner Park will transform the surrounding neighborhood by creating an elevated environment that feels engaging and safe through its design, marking a significant milestone in our dedication to responsible and community-centered development with a focus on housing our most vulnerable communities.”
Linc will preserve portions of the historic Armory interior and convert them into resident-centered spaces, including a community room, arts and crafts studio, wellness area, bicycle storage, landscaped courtyard and outdoor deck. A resident services coordinator will also oversee programming aimed at building community among tenants.
For nearby residents, the significance lies just as much in activating a long-empty landmark as in the housing itself.
The Historic St. Anthony Neighborhood Association, which has watched the former Armory sit unused since its decommissioning in 2018, has long pushed for a productive reuse of the building. Community members have also pointed to the importance of adding more daily activity and visibility near Gumbiner Park.
“Our community has been looking forward to the activation and revitalization of a long-vacant neighborhood historic landmark,” Gene Rascon of the Historic St. Anthony Neighborhood Association said in a press release. “We are looking forward to the positive presence of Linc’s senior residents bringing additional ‘eyes on the street.’ We also welcome a shared commitment to maintaining a safe and secure neighborhood, including the adjacent Gumbiner Park, an important downtown neighborhood cultural and recreational resource for local families, as well as for the nearby art institutions and schools.”
And how is it being funded?
Funding for the project comes through a layered public-private package:
- $6.5M from Long Beach Community Investment Company
- $5.2M from the City of Long Beach
- $6.2M from the California Department of Housing and Community Development
- Tax credit equity through Bank of America
- Grants from both the Josephine S. Gumbiner Foundation and Wells Fargo Foundation
Project-based rental vouchers will come through the Housing Authority of the City of Long Beach.
The Armory Arts Collective will be located at 854 E. 7th St.
