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Council amends sale agreement for former Long Beach Armory to keep affordable housing project on track
Summary
City Council approved amendments to the purchase‑and‑sale agreement with Link Armory LP to preserve a 64‑unit affordable housing project, add closing and drill‑hall improvement requirements, a $100,000 park‑fence contribution and a local historic‑landmark requirement to protect the Armory’s preservation and federal tax credits.
Long Beach — The City Council on Dec. 9 approved amendments to the purchase‑and‑sale agreement (PSA) for the former Long Beach Armory that city staff said are necessary to preserve a proposed 64‑unit affordable housing project and keep low‑income housing tax credits intact.
City staff walked the council through the property’s history, noting the state decommissioned its use in 2018 and the city received fee title that year. A competitive process resulted in a development proposal that evolved into a deed‑restricted project with 64 low‑income units (plus a manager unit) and use of the drill hall. The project received entitlements under Senate Bill 35 and was awarded 9% low‑income housing tax credits; those credits require a construction loan closing by Dec. 29, 2025, staff said.
Staff recommended amending closing requirements and adding explicit commitments: complete core‑shell improvements to the drill hall and negotiate programmatic terms with Saint Anthony High School by March 1, 2026 (or seek an alternate sublease, reasonably approved by the city); contribute $100,000 toward a perimeter fence at the adjacent park and oversee its construction prior to issuance of certificate of occupancy; and pursue a local historic landmark designation (city staff said that local designation achieves preservation goals at lower cost and higher chance of success than a National Register nomination).
Staff warned that failure to amend would likely cause the loss of the 9% tax credits and require the city to restart surplus‑land dispositions under the Surplus Land Act, which could delay housing delivery and increase ongoing city maintenance costs (staff estimated about $500,000 annually to maintain and secure the site if the project did not close). Councilmembers thanked staff and community supporters; the council approved the amendment unanimously.
Why it matters: The amendment is intended to keep a deed‑restricted affordable housing project on track while preserving the historic Armory structure and binding a developer to neighborhood benefits.
What to watch for next: The developer must meet March 1, 2026 drill‑hall sublease or alternative sublease agreements and satisfy closing timelines to preserve the tax credit award; staff said they will monitor compliance and report back if obligations are not met.
