Here are the latest local news highlights to kick off the week of Monday, February 19, 2024.
City Partners with Habitat for Humanity to Transform Former Library into Affordable Housing
The city, in collaboration with its nonprofit affiliate, The Long Beach Community Investment Company (LBCIC), and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles, celebrated the ceremonial demolition of the former North Neighborhood Library. The site is located at 5571 Orange Ave. and will be redeveloped into an affordable housing community with eight two-story townhomes, providing low-income families the opportunity to purchase their first homes. The project is supported by a $717,000 zero-interest loan from LBCIC to Habitat LA and aims to contribute to the city’s commitment to diverse and accessible housing options. The townhomes will be equipped with amenities like private yards and electric vehicle charging outlets, and are expected to break ground in the coming months, with completion anticipated later this year. Learn more here.
Long Beach Hosts Space Beach Job Fair for Displaced NASA JPL Professionals
Long Beach is hosting a Space Beach Job Fair on Feb. 23rd from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the City’s WorkPlace facility located at 4811 Airport Plaza Drive. The job fair is open to space and aerospace professionals affected by recent layoffs at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Long Beach residents with matching skill sets. The goal is to connect displaced employees with companies in Space Beach, the rapidly growing space and advanced manufacturing cluster in the United States. Participating companies, including Boeing and Rocket Lab, are looking to fill various positions, and interested individuals can register on the Pacific Gateway website. The job fair aims to support the local economy and provide opportunities for impacted professionals to find employment closer to home. Learn more here.
City Seeks Community Input on Studebaker Road Complete Streets Project
The city is organizing an in-person community meeting on March 2, 2024, at the El Dorado Park West Community Center to discuss the Studebaker Road Complete Streets Project. With an estimated cost of $50 million, the project aims to enhance the 5-mile corridor between 2nd Street and Carson Street with multi-modal improvements, including upgraded signals, fiber optic communication, pavement resurfacing, ADA-compliant paths, protected bikeways, and landscaping. The project is part of the Elevate ’28 plan, focusing on infrastructure revitalization for the 2028 Olympics. The meeting will feature a presentation, an open house for community engagement, and language interpretation services. The project is set for bidding in late spring 2024, with construction expected to commence in early Fall 2024. Learn more here.
