Over $5 Billion in California Strategic Growth Council Investments Is Making a Difference in Communities that Need It Most, including Watts
LOS ANGELES (1/14/26) — California is building more affordable housing in the right places — infill neighborhoods near transit, jobs and schools — while cutting harmful emissions, improving mobility and supporting sustainable communities for all with a focus on those most in need.
California remains committed to building affordable housing for all. Through our cap-and-invest climate program, we’re reinvesting in communities — turning climate dollars into real homes, real jobs, stronger neighborhoods, and opportunity where it’s needed most. That’s how we cut pollution, lower costs, and build communities that work for everyone.
This Tuesday, representatives with the state of California joined Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), BRIDGE Housing and partners to celebrate the grand opening of Cypress View, a new affordable housing community that marks a big milestone in the $1 billion redevelopment of the Jordan Downs public housing complex in Watts.
The grand opening of Cypress View represents the culmination of our work to comprehensively address issues related to housing, homelessness and the affordability crisis impacting so many across our city. Since taking office, we have accelerated the building of affordable housing units, increasing the city’s housing supply and helping Angelenos stay in the communities they love, in the city they love. I want to thank HACLA CEO Lourdes Castro Ramirez, and all those involved in this project, for not only creating much needed housing — but building a community.
State investments through programs like the California Strategic Growth Council’s (SGC) Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Program and the Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Program helped make the Jordan Downs Redevelopment Project — one of the largest public housing redevelopment projects in the U.S. — possible, including bringing a long-awaited full-service grocery store to an area of Watts that had gone decades without one.
Working alongside the people of Watts, BRIDGE Housing, and HACLA, we’re proving what’s possible when California follows community leadership — safe, affordable homes, green space, and the support families need to thrive. This is more than building new housing — it’s building resilience. Cypress View shows what California can do at its best, and it’s the kind of investment we are committed to lifting up across the state.
The project has received five awards totaling $77 million over multiple years from the AHSC Program, which is administered by SGC and implemented by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The Watts community, encompassing Jordan Downs, was also awarded $35 million through Round 1 of SGC’s Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Program to support Watts Rising. These investments support Gov. Gavin Newsom’s “Build More Housing, Faster” initiative, demonstrating how the state can meet ambitious housing and climate goals without compromising the character, culture or environmental health of local communities.
“With the support of state investments from the Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) and Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC), Watts residents helped shape more than new housing — they shaped safer streets, access to parks and transit, a new shopping center and much-needed grocery store, and a neighborhood families can take pride in,” said Erin Curtis, SGC’s Executive Director. “This incredible neighborhood transformation shows what happens when we invest in people, honoring their voice and building a healthier, more connected neighborhood for generations.”
With the support of state investments from the Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) and Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC), Watts residents helped shape more than new housing — they shaped safer streets, access to parks and transit, a new shopping center and much-needed grocery store, and a neighborhood families can take pride in. This incredible neighborhood transformation shows what happens when we invest in people, honoring their voice and building a healthier, more connected neighborhood for generations.
Jordan Downs Redevelopment Project
Originally built in the 1940s as housing for workers during World War II, Jordan Downs was converted to public housing in the 1950s. By the late 1990s, the aging buildings were showing years of wear and tear and were in dire need of redevelopment.
The monumental multi-year, multi-phase redevelopment led by HACLA has been underway for a decade. It envisions a model urban village offering mixed-income housing, open space, retail, and resident support services.
HACLA’s strategic $9.5 million contribution to Cypress View has served as a critical catalyst, leveraging over $90 million in federal, state, and private investment to advance the holistic revitalization of Jordan Downs. Also, by exceeding HUD’s local hire benchmarks, we are creating a powerful economic ripple effect that extends far beyond housing to include job creation, infrastructure, and parks. This milestone reinforces our unwavering commitment to the Watts community, ensuring that legacy residents remain at the heart of a stable, sustainable, and affordable neighborhood they are proud to call home.
The ongoing redevelopment will provide 1,500 units of mixed-income housing, including one-for-one replacement of existing units, and a 115,000-square-foot retail center. The community also includes a robust job training and social services platform, a new 50,000+ square foot Community Center and nine acres of open space.
Jordan Downs Plaza across from the housing complex also brings a much-needed grocery store to what was essentially an urban food desert.
A significant proportion of the workforce that developed the project was composed of workers and businesses who meet the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 3 Worker and Section 3 Business eligibility criteria. Over 180 new employment opportunities were created for Section 3 workers, including Jordan Downs and Watts residents.
Cypress View Community
The Cypress View community is BRIDGE Housing’s fourth housing community in the sweeping Jordan Downs redevelopment. It features 119 new apartment homes ranging up to five bedrooms in size, including 107 units affordable for families earning 30%-80% of the area median income. The remaining 12 apartments are offered at market rates, and 20 units are reserved for previous Jordan Downs residents.
At first, I wasn’t sure what the changes at Jordan Downs would mean for longtime residents like me. Fortunately, moving to Cypress View has been a wonderful experience. I’m excited for Jordan Downs to continue improving and providing opportunity for this community, because we deserve it.
The project also includes transportation improvements such as sidewalk repairs, new crosswalks, bike route upgrades, bike storage, electric vehicle chargers, new streetlights and pedestrian lights, and three years of discounted transit passes for the residents. Other on-site amenities include a workforce development training program, community rooms, in-unit and shared laundry facilities, and landscaped outdoor courtyards with BBQ grills.
The community was built in conjunction with Pearl Park, which offers water features, a children’s play area, shade structures and an open lawn.
The community is located within a short walk to transit at the Jordan Downs Plaza retail center, a medical clinic, pharmacy, high school and public library.
Young residents at Cypress View will have the opportunity to join the Building Bridges program, a summer skilled trades program created by BRIDGE Housing in partnership with Harbor Freight Tools for Schools. High school aged residents will receive a paycheck as well as hands-on experiences in welding and construction while working toward industry-recognized certifications.
Impact of California Climate Investments
The SGC recently surpassed a milestone of $5 billion in investments statewide – much of it funded by California Climate Investments.
The SGC investments:
- Fund affordable housing and transportation projects close to jobs, schools, and other daily destinations.
- Build climate resilience through protecting our productive farmlands and encouraging compact transit-oriented communities.
- Support community-led climate solutions that achieve major environmental, health, and economic benefits in California’s most disadvantaged communities.
California Climate Investments funding is part of the state’s cap-and-invest program, which requires polluters to buy allowances for the greenhouse gases they emit. The funding puts billions of dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment — especially in disadvantaged communities.
California Climate Investments includes 117 programs administered by 27 state agencies, with funding directly supporting the governor’s work to build a California for All, meeting the housing needs throughout the state while also protecting California’s climate.
California is using California Climate Investment funds to protect health, stability, and opportunity across the state.
About the California Strategic Growth Council (SGC)
The SGC is part of the governor’s Cabinet, a team of state leaders who work closely with the governor to advance sustainability, equity, and quality of life across California—connecting housing, transportation, climate, and community investment.
The 10 distinguished members of the council include state-agency secretaries and directors, and three appointed members of the public. The Director of the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation acts as its chair.
The collaborative structure of SGC provides a pathway for broad implementation across state agencies to prioritize uplifting community voices into the type of projects and resources to receive state funds.
About the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) Program
AHSC is administered by the California Strategic Growth Council and implemented by the California Department of Housing and Community Development. AHSC is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of cap-and-invest, formerly known as cap-and-trade, dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment — particularly in disadvantaged communities.
About HACLA
The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), established in 1938, provides affordable housing, rental assistance, and supportive services to more than 200,000 Angelenos. Its administrative portfolio includes 164 properties — 13 of which are public housing developments — totaling over 12,000 units, along with more than 60,000 Housing Vouchers and Certificates through the Section 8 program. For more information, visit www.hacla.org.