Politics
California’s Homeless Tower Costs Taxpayers More Than Median Condo Price
Clear Facts
- A newly opened high-rise residential tower, designed specifically for the homeless in downtown Los Angeles, has cost taxpayers an astonishing $600,000 per unit.
- The 19-story development, named the Weingart Tower, consists of 278 units and is noted as L.A.’s largest permanent support housing project.
- The cost of constructing each unit in the high-rise development surpasses the median price of a condominium in Los Angeles, which was assessed at $564,520 at the end of 2023.
The Weingart Tower, a high-rise residential project built to provide shelter for the homeless in Los Angeles, launched operations recently. The cost to build each unit in the tower is a staggering $600,000, a financial obligation shouldered by taxpayers.
The 19-story building comprises a total of 278 units. It is designed to assist those without shelter in the notorious Skid Row and is hailed as the largest permanent support housing project in Los Angeles.
“However, the cost to construct such a project is significant. Each unit’s cost is nearly $600,000, and it’s funded by taxpayers.”
In addition to offering shelter, the building is also fitted with a whole floor dedicated to case worker offices. It also includes several amenities such as a gym, art room, music room, computer room, and library.
Nevertheless, the financial implications of this project are alarming. The construction cost per unit in this development is greater than the median price of a condominium in Los Angeles, which was estimated at $564,520 at the end of 2023. It’s worth noting that the median listing price for a detached, single-family home in Los Angeles is still higher, estimated at $1.3 million.
In the past fifteen years, Los Angeles has grappled with homelessness through a range of tax increases and taxpayer-funded initiatives. Despite these, the city has been unsuccessful in mitigating the growth of the homeless population.
“Critics argue that providing benefits to the homeless — like apartments or hotel rooms — generates new incentives for homeless people to move to the city and the state.”
Some believe that offering benefits, such as apartments and hotel rooms, may encourage more homeless people to relocate to the city and the state. Coupled with the costs associated with the Weingart Tower, these arguments raise questions about the effectiveness and economic feasibility of such initiatives in tackling homelessness.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
Richard S
June 22, 2024 at 8:18 am
Buildings like that usually have an HOA that the condo owners pay a monthly fee to for maintenance, services, upkeep and for a Property Manager. What is that additional cost? I’m sure the taxpayers are footing the bill for that as well.
tanika eurica doss
June 23, 2024 at 6:36 am
what is wrong with these morons. the politicians and the real idiotes THE PEOPLE THAT KEEP ELECTING THESE A HOLES
K Sny
June 26, 2024 at 10:03 am
And they will keep reelecting them. The people of California will keep reelecting free spending
Democrats because they are programmed to do nothing else.
Spencer
June 24, 2024 at 8:12 am
Wouldn’t bother me if a commercial plane ran into it at second floor level at 2 am when full of illegal aliens.
Colby Goodson
June 26, 2024 at 6:40 am
Give them an inch, they will TAKE a mile. How about getting a job and taking care of yourself.
Dave
June 26, 2024 at 7:00 am
It would take dozens of these buildings to house all the homeless if not more. At 166 million apiece, that is a lot of money.
John Leonard
June 26, 2024 at 7:17 am
Only in California, “If you build it they will come”. YA THINK
Rick
June 26, 2024 at 8:05 am
Californians that support leaders permitting this to happen deserve to pay. Want to stop this, remove these people from office.
lou
June 26, 2024 at 9:37 am
These comments are a sad example of citizenship and humanity. I suggest those who comment here have no clue. I have no answers. I have no knowledge of the percentage of the homeless are victims of happening out of their control. Or the percentage of those who embrace the homeless lifestyle.
I spend a month every year in and about LA County. I see it first hand. There are employed homeless, out of work homeless, mentally challenged homeless and those who live in the way.
How does one address these issues? Those that comment before me offer nothing from a responsible thought.
Al B Clarke
August 11, 2024 at 9:05 pm
Lou, you offer no responsible thought, either, except the “information” that some homeless are really trying. We get that. What the posters before you say is also true: If you build it, they will come. Traditional homeless shelters do not allow drug or alcohol use or even smoking by residents. Is this project the same, or do they drop the drug/alcohol/smoking bans? Since 80-90% of homelessness is drug/alcohol related, they could fill this building in a hurry if they permit drug or alcohol use or even smoking. What a hell-hole that would be. If they ban drug/alcohol/smoking, they won’t make a dent in the homeless-on-the-street problem. While you’re thinking about your own offerings in the way of constructive solutions, watch your step out there.
Ryan
June 26, 2024 at 10:08 am
California being idiotic and throwing money away… This one $167 million dollar project will not even put a dent in the homeless situation… In fact it will just draw even more homeless people to the area in hopes that they too can score a free apartment with a gym and other free amenities that some hard-working, tax payers footing this bill don’t have!
Jimmimac
June 26, 2024 at 10:14 am
Another demorat failure!
Vern
June 26, 2024 at 10:16 am
It may be funded by LA taxpayers but it CERTAINLY IS NOT VOLUNTARILY. Not only is the cost per unit ridiculous you need to look at where the money went, of course you need to do that with every expenditure made by politicians at every level
WOKE JOKES
June 26, 2024 at 12:00 pm
“It also includes several amenities such as a gym, art room, music room, computer room, and library.”
lmfao!! Yup, drug addicts, and alcoholics need those “amenities”
How soon before the plumbing and wiring is all ripped out to pay for their next bottle or fix??
Kls
June 27, 2024 at 9:50 am
Chances are it will be trashed out in a matter of months. I’m not saying all homeless are this way, but many I’ve seen in our town, you give them something nice, and they trash it and move on. A friend of mine was allowing a “homeless” couple to live in an empty apartment he had. Trashed beyond repair in a few months and they moved on.