Culver City Observer -

The Culver City Council has approved a request from a non-profit developer to modify a proposed affordable complex at the site of Culver Palms United Methodist Church, located at 4464 Sepulveda Blvd.

The project, proposed by Community Corp. of Santa Monica, originally called for tearing down the church and pre-school building to clear the way for a new five-story, nearly 157,000-square-foot building featuring 78 residential units atop semi-subterranean parking for 127 vehicles, according to Urbanize LA. Plans also included the construction of new buildings on the property for both the church and the pre-school.

However, Community Corp. was unable to obtain additional financing to move forward with the project – which had secured a funding commitment of $4 million from the Culver City Housing Authority – forcing it to go back to the drawing board.

The revised project calls for 95 one, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, reserved for households earning between 30 and 80% of the area median income level, according to Urbanize LA. The new development, named "Jubilo Village," is expected to cost nearly $66.5 million, according to the developer. Financing is expected to close by December 2023.

While Community Corp. will lead the development, Culver Palms United Methodist Church will continue to own the land, with ground lease payments covering the cost of the new church and pre-school buildings.

"As we learned about the need for housing in this community, [Culver Palms United Methodist Church] responded to a call," the church said in a statement. "After discussions in small groups, Church Town Halls, and Church Council meetings, we decided as a church family during last year's Charge Conference that we do want to see affordable housing built on the church property. And, after much deliberation and a participatory process, a decision was made by the CPUMC Council to build completely new church facilities."