HOLLYWOOD COMMUNITY HOUSING CORPORATION-A PROFILE

The somewhat forlorn mansion from 1904 at left, on the corner of Fountain Avenue and Wilcox Avenue, is one of the last survivors of the community of Colegrove founded by Senator Cornelius Cole, friend and confidant of Abraham Lincoln. The home is seen at right in a vintage photograph. Below is the current, restored home.

Hollywood Community Housing Corporation (“HCHC”) has been a preservation partner in Hollywood for over 20 years. Founded in 1989 through the efforts of former City Councilman Michael Woo, the Community Redevelopment Agency, the Los Angeles Community Design Center and Hollywood Heritage founding and current Board Member Christy Johnson McAvoy, long time community leaders, historic preservationists and concerned Hollywood residents were brought together to form the agency. HCHC develops safe, attractive and affordable homes for some of the lowest-income residents of our community. Projects are close to public transportation, schools and places to shop and work. HCHC buildings include amenities and services that help families and individuals to further improve their lives.

The first project of HCHC was the rehabilitation of the historic Nelson Dunning House, known as "Orchard Gables" and new construction of 24 adjacent units of affordable housing. Architect and former Hollywood Heritage board member Ed Hunt was instrumental to the project. Today, HCHC operates twenty-two buildings that serve 718 households. The work of HCHC benefits large families, seniors, children and single parents. At the same time, HCHC buildings revitalize blighted, crime-infested areas with renovations of historic properties and striking new construction.

Other HCHC affordable housing projects involving historic buildings include the St. Andrews Bungalow Court near Sunset Boulevard, the Palomar Apartments on Santa Monica Boulevard near Western Avenue, Alexandria House Apartments near Wilshire Boulevard, the Werner Illing House, the Wilcox Apartments at Yucca, the Kenmore Apartments, Argyle Court and the 2010 Hollywood Bungalow Courtyards on Kingsley and Serano.

New development projects include the Mariposa Apartments, Carlton Court, Harold Way Apartments, LaBrea/Franklin Apartments, Barnsdall Court, Casa Verde, Hollywood Metro Apartments, Views at 270, Carlton Apartments, Waterloo Apartments, Innis Heights, Mirada Terrace, and Allesandro Apartments.

Although not an affordable housing project, the latest rehabilitation project of the organization is Orchard Gables, located at the intersection of Wilcox and Fountain Avenues. HCHC has restored this Historic-Cultural Monument to serve as the offices for the LACER afterschool program and others.

We look forward to HCHC’s continued effort in the preservation of Hollywood’s built environment. For further information on HCHC please go to hollywoodhousing.org.

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