Saturday, February 28, 2026
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
901-941 E Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach
Getting there: Short walk from Metro A Line PCH Station, rideshare encouraged
Tour of an Affordable Housing Community led by Studio One Eleven
L.A. Forum Members: $5
Non-Members: $28
L.A. Forum Membership: $85 for Individuals, $30 for Students
MLK+PCH is an affordable senior mixed-use project in Long Beach for formerly homeless and veterans that strives to reflect community.
“Our approach to the design was influenced by what we heard from the community. The architecture style is inspired by two beloved institutions in the neighborhood, Poly High School and Long Beach City College both designed in the streamline moderne style. The development’s height fronts Pacific Coast Hwy and steps down to minimize the impact to the low scale structures northward. The building also serves as a canvas to accept art reflecting neighborhood values and history to support the burgeoning art installations along Martin Luther King Boulevard.” Michael Bohn, AIA Partner, Studio One Eleven.
The 4-story building consists of 67 units for seniors with 34 of them allocated for formerly homeless. There are a mix of studio and one bedroom apartments and the development is dedicated to a range of spaces including resident lobby, lounge, teaching kitchen, bike kitchen, case manager offices, mailroom and community garden.
The ground floor hosts the Do Good Daniel’s Family Corporation, a non-profit organization that occupies a 3,500-square-foot space, adding a community-oriented dimension to the project. Their goals include empowering youth and their families to do good by providing them with targeted care management services, housing support, mentorship, and life skills education— giving them the tools to unleash their full potential to thrive, lead, and make a positive impact in their communities. “We hope the youth that this non-profit serves is an opportunity for intergenerational mixing with our seniors residing on the upper floors,” says Michael Bohn.
Studio One Eleven’s design approach was inspired by streamline moderne styles of nearby educational institutions, Long Beach City College and Long Beach Polytechnic High School. Metal paneling and fiber cement back siding was used on the facade to recall familiar patterns from these respected institutions. Walls fold in and out recalling zig zag modern buildings and help vary the block long facade.
MLK has several art installations and institutions so it was important for this development to make a contribution. Three large painted murals by local artists Roshi and Andrea James add a vibrant layer to the building’s exterior and connects back to the neighborhood's fabric of community, music, and art. The highlight mural at the corner of MLK+PCH pays homage to the former VIP records across the street, and the neighborhood’s established African-American community.
MLK+PCH evokes an environment of wellness and community for its residents. The podium courtyard and spacious private outdoor terraces with gates encourage interaction. Promoting active living for seniors, an exterior decorative stair along MLK and a second stair that provides direct access to the courtyard are conveniently located. Corridors have handrails and each floor has built in benches for resting. Large decorative internally light floor numbers are at each elevator and unit entries to assist with wayfinding. Each apartment has natural materials, large windows for natural light and views of the surrounding neighborhood and those facing the courtyard have balconies. All apartments are accessible with low counters and grab bars to allow aging in place.
The building gracefully steps down towards the single-family neighborhood in order to not overwhelm it. The north side of the property has a courtyard with large resident community gardens where seniors can grow flowers, fruits and vegetables. Additionally, the indoor communal lounge and kitchen space can be used for cooking lessons.The alleyway adjacent to the development was improved with landscaping, including trees and a bamboo hedge along the building property line further screening for privacy and nature. Sustainability was a key focus which includes a solar rooftop water tank and modular wetlands resulting in LEED Gold certification.
MLK+PCH Project Information:
Units: 67
Funding: LACDA TCAC
Budget: $25,500,000
Architect/Landscape Architect: Studio One Eleven
Developer: Mercy Housing
Contractor: United Building Company
Muralists: Rishi and Andrea James
Wayfinding: HBA
Image credits:
Photographer: HANA Photography