Affordable senior housing.

Oft-maligned Parthenia Street is looking better these days with the near-completion of a new affordable-house apartment building for seniors. Located at the corner of Parthenia Street and Shirley Avenue, the 77-unit building should be ready for residents to move-in around Nov. 1, said John Ambicki, project manager for Alpha Construction, the general contractor.

The project is being developed by Menorah Housing Foundation, a non-sectarian, community-based, non-profit affordable housing developer. The group operates four other buildings in the Valley already.

Anne Friedrich, executive director of Menorah Housing, said that a lottery was held to determine who would get to move in.

"We received 480 applications for 76 units," she said. One unit is reserved for an on-site manager.

Funding came through a variety of sources, including HUD, the City of L.A. Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the Ahmanson Foundation, the Jewish Community Foundation and City National Bank.

Applicants had to prove they were at least 62 years old, and have a maximum annual income of $25,900 for one person or $29,600 for two people, said Friedrich, but typically their tenants average closer to $10,000 per year as most are living completely off of Social Security payments.

Rents are on a sliding scale and are based on 30 percent of the tenant's income, "which makes it very affordable for them," said Friedrich.

The average rent is about $180 per month.

This is an independent living building meaning there are no on-site facilities for skilled nursing or other care of that type.

All of the units are one-bedroom and the project also offers a community room and a laundry room. A 35-space secured surface parking lot is behind the building.

Friedrich said that Menorah, which has 950 other units through the southland, has a long waitlist for their projects. "Typically the wait is between three and 10 years."

Menorah bought the property in 2004.

The project is designed to be sensitive to the neighborhood, Friedrich said. "We pride ourselves on being a good neighbor."

BY LINDA COBURN

Contributing Reporter