SEASONS at Compton Receives $350,000 Weingart Grant and NAHB National Honor

LONG BEACH, CA--(Marketwire - May 4, 2009) - SEASONS at Compton, an 84-unit affordable rental community that blends limited-income seniors, adults with developmental disabilities, and seniors who care for dependents with developmentally disabilities, was recently awarded a $350,000 grant from the Weingart Foundation (www.weingartfnd.org) and a Gold Award from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) 50+ Housing Council (www.nahb.org).

LINC Housing Corporation (www.linchousing.org), the Long Beach-based nonprofit developer of this much-needed community, has been working toward securing the funds needed to begin construction for several years. The grant puts LINC one step closer to the groundbreaking of this new model, while the award validates the noteworthy nature of SEASONS.

"There is a huge need for affordable housing for these segments of our community, especially for seniors living on fixed incomes and for parents and grandparents caring for children with developmental disabilities," said Hunter L. Johnson, LINC's president and CEO. "The challenging economy has caused a slow down in building, and the news of the Weingart Foundation grant and National Association of Home Builders award is most welcome. We'll be able to leverage the grant to secure additional capital, and we expect that soon we'll have all the funds necessary to begin construction."

SEASONS at Compton, designed by architect Nardi Associates LLP, incorporates Universal and Sustainable Design principles as top priorities to provide a beautiful, highly functional environment for its residents, while also emphasizing access for handicapped individuals, energy efficiency, use of natural light and ventilation, and reducing the property's carbon footprint. The complex will include environmental features like photovoltaic panels and solar thermal hot water, as well as accessibility features like wider doorways and hallways, adjustable height counters, lower light switches, ramps, and elevators. LINC also plans to bring three areas of services to the community: senior health and wellbeing programs; independent living skills training; and special services for residents with developmental disabilities.

The development has already received funding from a diverse group of public and private sources. If the last part of funding comes together as anticipated, construction of SEASONS at Compton is expected to begin in October. The community will be located at the corner of S. Frailey Avenue and Alondra Boulevard in Compton, Calif.

Contact Information: Contact: Holly Ferris (562) 429-6456