HFLF IN THE NEWS/AWARDS

AWARDS

*SCANPH’S AWARD*

(SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF NON PROFIT HOUSING)

 -CEDAR STREET HOMES-  PROJECT OF THE YEAR, SPECIAL NEEDS HOUSING, 2005

 -BIRCH GROVE HOMES AND ELM STREET HOMES-  PROJECT OF THE YEAR, SPECIAL NEEDS HOUSING, 2007

 *NAHRO’ MERIT AWARD*

(NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOUSING & REDEVELOPMENT OFFICIALS)

 SPONSOR  THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION FOR THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

 DEVELOPER  HOMES FOR LIFE FOUNDATION

HOMES FOR LIFE FOUNDATION  THREE RECENT PROJECTS AT METROPOLITAN STATE HOSPITAL

 IN 1913, GOVERNOR HIRAM JOHNSON (OUR 23^RD GOVERNOR) APPROPRIATED AUTHORITY AND FUNDS TO CREATE A NEW SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MENTAL HOSPITAL BECAUSE OF POPULATION GROWTH.  THE HOSPITAL WAS INTENDED TO SERVICE LOS ANGELES AND ORANGE COUNTIES POPULATIONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.  METROPOLITAN STATE HOSPITAL WAS OPENED ON 80 ACRES OF LAND AS NORWALK STATE HOSPITAL ON FEBRUARY 15, 1916 WITH 105 PATIENTS AND 21 EMPLOYEES.  ONE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING WITH TWO FLOORS HOUSED 80 PATIENTS.  THE PATIENT POPULATION INCREASED FROM 240 IN 1918 TO 2500 IN 1956, WITH STAFF INCREASING TO 654.

 TODAY, THE METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL SITE IS COMPOSED OF 162 ACRES AND 80 STRUCTURES.  THE HISTORIC AREA OF THE HOSPITAL IS LOCATED ON THE EASTERN BOUNDARY WITH BUILDINGS POSITIONED AROUND A LARGE PARK AREA, WITH TRIMMED GRASS AND MATURE TREES.  THE THREE BUILDINGS ARE PART OF THE HOSPITAL’S TWENTY-ONE STRUCTURE “HISTORIC CORE” AND ARE A STATE DESIGNATED HISTORIC DISTRICT AND ELIGIBLE FOR LISTING ON THE NATIONAL REGISTRY OF HISTORIC PLACES.

 HOMES FOR LIFE FOUNDATION, A NON-PROFIT PROVIDER OF HOUSING AND SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS, IDENTIFIED THREE OF THE BUILDINGS AS SUITABLE FOR ADAPTING REUSE, AND SOUGHT LONG-TERM LEASES OF THE PROPERTIES IN ORDER TO BRING THEM UP TO CURRENT STANDARDS AND CONVERT THEM TO HOUSING.

BUILDING 303 BIRCH GROVE HOMES (1922) AND BUILDING 305 / 305, CEDAR STREET HOMES (1920) ARE TWO STORY BUILDINGS, WHICH WERE ORIGINALLY DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE PATIENTS IN SEVERAL LARGE WARD ROOMS WITH SHARED BATHROOMS, DINING AND OTHER COMMON FACILITIES (THINK, “ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOOS NEST”).  THE OLD ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, ELM STREET HOMES (1921) IS A TWO-STORY BUILDING THAT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED AS THE HOSPITAL’S CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES.

 REUSE OF THE BUILDINGS REQUIRED RECONFIGURATION OF THE INTERIOR SPACE, COMPLIANCE WITH CURRENT CODES FOR SEISMIC DESIGN, COMPLETE REVAMPING OF THE BUILDING’S MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL, AND PLUMBING SYSTEMS, WHICH WERE OBSOLETE, AND NON-FUNCTION, ABATEMENT OF LEAD-BASED PAINT AND ASBESTOS, AND INSTALLATION OF FIRE LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS INCLUDING FIRE SPRINKLERS.