Groundbreaking Held for Seniors’ Complex

Federal and local officials broke ground Thursday on a low-income housing project for older people that has been years in development.

The Golden Years Senior Apartments, a 90-unit complex, is a project of the Tarzana Lodge of the Jewish service organization B’nai B’rith.

The complex will be at 11330 Otsego St. and will cost about $8 million. Construction is expected to be finished by next fall.

Tenants of the low-income apartments will pay a third of the monthly rent, or about $180, according to Milton Bleaman, president of the Tarzana Lodge.

The lodge had been planning the project for about four years.

“With groundbreaking . . . Golden Years begins to come into reality,” Bleaman said.

One of the challenges, Bleaman added, “was to find land in the Valley that met HUD guidelines in terms of price.”

The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development gave $7.9 million for the project, and the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency lent $500,000.

Representatives from both agencies joined City Council President John Ferraro and Councilman Joel Wachs at Thursday’s ceremony.

B’nai B’rith operates 29 apartment buildings in 21 U.S. cities.

Residence applications are being reviewed by Golden Years officials.

Those interested may call (818) 763-0810.