A South Los Angeles church’s underused land is now the site of a major affordable housing development – and the deal signals a growing role for faith institutions in addressing the city’s ongoing housing crisis.
Logos Faith Development, a Westchester-based real estate firm that develops affordable housing projects on underutilized church land, broke ground last Tuesday on the first phase of a 138-unit affordable housing community. The new project, located at 709 W. Manchester Ave., is being developed in partnership with St. Rest Friendship Baptist Church.
The project marks Logos Faith Development’s first groundbreaking completed without co-developers, a milestone the firm says reflects its maturation as a standalone development entity.
“This project is not simply about developing a building,” Martin Porter, founder and chief executive of Logos Faith Development, said in a statement. “It’s about my passion and vision for people to live in housing that has world-class interior design that inspires them on a daily basis.”
Located in the Vermont Knolls neighborhood, the initial phase will deliver 62 apartment homes on land owned by St. Rest. The four-story building will include 53 one-bedroom units and nine two-bedroom units, feature a second-floor courtyard and provide 27 covered parking spaces.
Financing for this phase is already in place. Sunflower Bank provided a construction loan of approximately $15 million to cover the costs, with completion expected in the fourth quarter of 2027.
A call ‘to serve’
The full two-phase project will deliver 138 units – a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments – with roughly 90% of units dedicated to low-income tenants under Section 8 standards. The second installment will also include a “new worship and ministry space” for the church.
“This project reflects our calling to serve our community in tangible ways,” said the Rev. Torrey Collins, who leads the church, in a statement. “By partnering with Logos Faith Development, we are transforming our land into a place of opportunity, dignity and hope. Today’s groundbreaking is a testament to what can happen when faith, vision and expertise come together.”
Held on May 26, the groundbreaking ceremony drew local officials and community leaders, who lauded the project as a significant step forward for the current housing market.
“Addressing our housing crisis is something everyone in Los Angeles should be invested in,” said Marqueece Harris-Dawson, L.A. City Council president. “I look forward to the success of this project.”
Founded in 2017, Logos partners with churches to transform underutilized land into privately funded affordable housing through an innovative nonprofit-partner model that creates property-tax-exempt developments. That in turn generates long-term value for churches while offering investors market-rate returns.
The St. Rest project is part of a broader expansion for Logos. In October, the firm announced a strategic partnership with Pasadena-based Cooperative LA to co-develop 300 housing units across Southern California over a 24-month period. The firm now counts a $700 million development pipeline encompassing more than 2,000 units and more than 30 church partners.
