California Construction News staff writer
A 2-million sq. ft. affordable senior housing development that will create more than 3,000 new units in Woodland Hills has been unveiled as the largest project approved through Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’ housing streamlining initiative.
Viva L.A. at Warner Center is being developed as an assisted living community in the city’s Warner Center area.
Developer Wellpointe Inc., says Viva L.A. at Warner Center is intended to create a new model for high-density affordable senior living in urban areas.
“Senior living continues to be built out rather than up — even in dense urban areas — and quality is treated as incompatible with affordability,” said George Kutnerian, co-founder and CEO of Wellpointe. “Viva rejects that premise and builds upon Wellpointe’s mission of democratizing access to quality housing and care for older adults.”
Architecture firm Gensler is working on the design, with officials describing the project as a vertical community focused on housing, connection and care.
“With Viva, we set out to prove that high-density senior housing can be as thoughtful and humane as it is efficient,” said Eric Stultz, studio director and principal at Gensler. “This groundbreaking project will redefine what is possible in the world of affordable assisted living.”
It will combine affordable housing with assisted living services, creating a transit-oriented community designed around the needs of an aging population.
The project builds on the Warner Center 2035 Specific Plan, which Blumenfield said helped establish the framework for increased density and redevelopment in the area more than a decade ago.
Officials said the development represents the scale of housing production the city is seeking as Los Angeles works to address affordability challenges and expand options for older residents.
