EVEN DEVELOPERS OF HIGH-end suburban projects keep security in mind during the planning phase, but that's one design facet that takes on extra importance in the inner city. Pueblo del Sol, an affordable “urban village” on the eastern edge of Los Angeles, was formerly home to a public housing project that had become a haven for gang activity. When the Irvine, Calif.–based The Related Cos. took on the public/private rebuilding venture, safety was high on its list of concerns.
Gating was ruled out as an option, so other safety elements were adopted. These included garages with direct access to units (rare for affordable housing); living areas that look out onto streets and courtyards; alarm systems for every one of the 470 units; and no vehicular through-circulation, the better to cut down on the possibility of drive-by shootings. “This place wasn't livable or secure before,” says Kim McKay, vice president of development for The Related Cos. “Now it is.”
Category: Infill community (tie); Entrant/Developer: The Related Cos. of California, Irvine, Calif.; Architects/Land planners: Quatro Design Group, Los Angeles; Van Tilburg, Banvard & Soderbergh, Santa Monica, Calif.; William Hezmalhalch Architects, Santa Ana, Calif.; Wraight Architects, Irvine; Builder: Hensel Phelps Construction Co., Irvine; Interior designer: Chameleon Design, Aliso Viejo, Calif.
Learn more about markets featured in this article: Los Angeles, CA.
