So, Skid Row may be getting that affordable housing tower after all

Nonprofit developer Weingart Center is increasing the size of the affordable housing tower that would rise in the heart of Los Angeles’ homelessness crisis in Skid Row.

The 19-story, 298-unit San Pedro Tower planned at 600 San Pedro Street previously called for 17,000 square feet of office space. But now, Weingart Center is proposing to nearly triple the amount of office space — to 50,000 square feet — by replacing a parking lot near Sixth and San Pedro streets, Curbed reported.

The additional office area would be occupied by Inner City Law Center and Chrysalis, a nonprofit service provider for job training and placement.

San Diego-based Joseph Wong Design Associates designed the tower, which is expected to open in 2023, with four two-bedroom manager units, 3,200 square feet of retail, a rooftop deck and community gardens.

The 19-story tower is just one component of a master plan that L.A.-based Weingart Center has for the area. The firm is also developing the $138-million Weingart Towers at 555 South Crocker Street nearby, which survived appeals from neighbors. The combined projects developed with Chelsea Investment Corporation will add almost 700 units of supportive and affordable housing by 2025.

Another nonprofit, Coalition for Responsible Community Development, is also working in Skid Row. The firm recently filed plans to convert three buildings in on 5th Street into 95 units for extremely low-income households and 16,000 square feet of commercial space. [Curbed] — Gregory Cornfield