Women's Center Recognized with National Preservation Award
Randall Michelson/rmpix.com
The Downtown Women's Center moved into its renovated home at 442 S. San Pedro in December of last year.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The new home of the Downtown Women's Center will be one of 23 projects honored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation this evening at its annual conference.
The organization moved into its new home last December, converting the former shoe factory built in 1926 into 71 units of affordable housing for women.
The facility is one of 13 projects given the group's 2011 National Preservation Honor Award.
“While each is unique, this year’s outstanding Honor Award winners all reflect the importance of protecting what is special and irreplaceable,” said Stephanie Meeks, president of the Trust.
Along with facilities for residents and other women in need, the building at 442 S. San Pedro is also home to Made By DWC, a cafe and gift shop that supports the Women's Center and features goods made by residents.
Brian Tompkins on October 20, 2011, at 07:02PM – #1
This place sets a great example. Restored historic building, housing for at-risk women, job creation, and ground floor retail/cafe that engages the street. It's a nice cafe too. It would be interesting to see that kind of scenario in some of the other social service organizations in that neighborhood. That is, ground floor retail, staffed by people from the neighborhood.
Jasmijn on October 21, 2011, at 10:30PM – #2
We were just admiring this building last night! Glad to hear other people have been, too, and that the whole project is such a good one.
Ah, imagine downtown in the days when a shoe factory was built to look like this!