On Sept. 25, Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC), a community nonprofit and affordable housing developer, celebrated the grand opening of Umeya, a mixed-use, 100% affordable and permanent supportive housing development with community, commercial, and service provider space located at the intersection of Little
Tokyo and Skid Row.
The development is located at the site of the vacant former Umeya Rice Cake Company, which served the Japanese American community for 100 years before closing its doors in 2017. LTSC acquired the property in 2019 and redeveloped the iconic factory and warehouse into 175 deeply affordable apartments. Half of all units will be set aside as permanent supportive housing (PSH) for formerly homeless households, with on-site supportive services for residents.
The ground floor is dedicated to approximately 13,000 square feet of community, commercial, and service provider space. This highly sustainable LEED-certified building features a 4,000-square-foot landscaped courtyard, a community-led mural by local Skid Row artist Showzart, and will feature an exhibit honoring Umeya as a three-generation, Japanese American family-owned business.
The grand opening ceremony featured a performance from Skid Row group Urban Voices Project Choir, as well as speeches from funders, partners, and agencies essential to the Umeya development.
“Developing 175 affordable units on this historic site in a way that involves meaningful community partnership is really significant,” said Takao Suzuki, co-executive director of LTSC. “Along with our Little Tokyo community and the Umeya/Hamano family, we’re grateful to our partnership with the Skid Row community and are eager to continue working together to create positive change.”
“This isn’t just a ribbon cutting. This is a testament to the vision, the perseverance and the heart of a community that knows exactly what it needs and has the courage to build it,” said Councilmember Ysabel Jurado of Council District 14, which includes Little Tokyo and Skid Row. “Today, we open the doors to 175 deeply affordable apartments: 88 units of permanent supportive housing for unhoused neighbors and 85 affordable homes for low-income families.
“I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to LTSC for spearheading this transformative project. Your commitment to housing, community and culture is unwavering. As a student studying community economic development, I saw LTSC’s work, and to be a partner with you is like a dream come true. Let this be a model, not just for how we build housing, but how we build hope.”
“The State of California contributed more than $75 million to the project, approximately three quarters of the total development cost,” said Gustavo Velasquez, director of the California Department of Housing and Community Development. “But it isn’t just the numbers, it’s what this project represents for Skid Row, it’s the history behind it, it’s the opportunity to welcome residents that otherwise would not have an opportunity to have a dignified place to live.
“The partnership with Little Tokyo Service Center and the City of LA is incredible, and we’re just delighted that this has come to fruition. This project is just amazing.”
“Citi Community Capital provided an $86 million construction loan which will convert to a $16 million permanent mortgage,” said Hao Li, director of City Community Capital. “But we know that our role here is not just about providing funding, it’s also about being a good partner to the community. Umeya stands as a testament to LTSC’s vision, persistence, and deep commitment to this community, and we are honored to have played a role in this development.”
LTSC celebrates its 45th anniversary this year, with Umeya growing its affordable housing portfolio to over 1,350 units across Los Angeles. Umeya’s affordability, supportive services, community-serving commercial space, and neighborhood engagement reflect LTSC’s mission to create positive change for people and places. LTSC currently has five affordable housing projects in the pipeline in Little Tokyo, Chinatown, and South L.A.