Jordan Downs, Watts, Los Angeles CA
Designed initially as Daniel Solomon Design Partners subsequently as Mithun/Solomon
Phase 1 architecture Mithun/Solomon with SVA architects
John Ellis Urban Designer with Daniel Solomon, Christopher Pizzi, Kimberly Perette, Madeleine Zayas, Mohammad Momin.
700-unit Jordan Downs was one of the most distressed, violent and depressing public housing sites in the country. The 1,500-unit master plan rebuilds the public housing units, integrating them into a new community that will also contain a similar number of affordable units, some market rate units, new neighborhood retail with employment opportunities, and a multi-service community center.
The site plan is organized around a new Central Park and Community Building. The plan's pattern of streets and small blocks reconnects Jordan Downs with the surrounding neighborhood and creates defensible private spaces and active public ones. Each phase of development includes four components: social services, public open space, employment and new homes. The phasing plan permits on-site relocation of all existing public housing residents without displacement.
The 100 acre site of a former 750 unit public housing project is being transformed into a mixed-income neighborhood with a network of new streets, small blocks, 1,500 new housing types together with a new retail center and community facilities.
Aerial view looking east along Century Blvd.
Aerial view looking west along Century Blvd.
Stacked walk-up flats.
Balcony units facing Century Blvd.
Midblock paseo.
Walk-up townhouses over flats.
Front stoop facing Century B;lvd.
Tenant landscaping on Century Blvd.
Car court.
Trash room enclosure.
Aerial view 2024 showing how the development is progressing with new housing by multiple architects around the future Central Park. A range of building types from walk-up townhouses to stacked flats and future mid-rise buildings.