Little Lake Village at Santa Fe Springs is a senior community that celebrated its grand opening on November 25, 2003. It has put a new face on affordable housing for seniors and provides quality, comfortable, and affordable housing as well as a source of cultural enrichment for the community.

This 144-unit multifamily project addresses the tremendous need of affordable senior housing, as evidenced by a lengthy waiting list and the fact that a number of new residents had previously been living with relatives. In addition, the city invested in a diverse collection of art that has been installed on-site in accordance with Santa Fe Springs' "Heritage Art in Public Places Program."

"The result of a four-year effort, the concept of Little Lake Village at Santa Fe Springs belies the often negative perception associated with low-income housing, which was a key goal of the development partnership," said Mayor Gustavo Velasco.

Little Lake Village at Santa Fe Springs was named for a small lake nearby that was fed by an underground spring and disappeared when oil drilling began in the area around 1915. It encompasses one- and two-bedroom apartments within gated, attractively landscaped grounds connected by meandering pathways. Among the on-site amenities are a 5,000-square foot community center with a kitchen, activities room and computer lab. A full-time activities director plans events and outings for residents.

The apartments are available to seniors age 62 and older earning between 50% and 60% of area median income (AMI) for Los Angeles County.

Centerpiece of the new community is the collection of art that relates to the city's history and fosters a positive community identity for the city's seniors. The pieces range from a bronze sculpture, "Promenade," by Colorado artist Gary Alsum, a bronze bench called "Les Grandes Berces," by French artist Claude Lalanne, and "Photo Album," showcasing images from the city's archives by local artist Wayne Healy.

The works are valued at more than $150,000 and represent the most ambitious "art-in-public-places" program we have ever produced accordingto the City.

In place for more than a decade, a one-percent fee on development projects funds the Heritage Artprogram. The developer can either proposeits own artwork or pay into a fund that is administered by the City. From this fund, the City, working with the Heritage Arts Advisory Committee, identifies works of art for placement in locations that will enhance the community.

"This is a historical moment in our city," said Velasco. "This development will not only provide 144 new affordable housing units for seniors, but will also showcase a public art display that adds to the cultural ambiance of the entire community. The partnerships that brought this to fruition exemplify the best-case scenario of private and public investment and cooperation."

Public Art Tour
Little Lake Village at Santa Fe Springs

Special consideration was taken in the selection of beautiful art pieces for the site. Each piece selected relates to the City's history and promotes a positive and active community identity. Each artist selected is recognized in his or her field for unique contributions to public art.
Per City guidelines, landscape architect Charles Lamb was very involved in the placement of the art, working closely with the Santa Fe Springs Art Committee to blend landscaping and art, resulting in a unifying theme within the grounds. Plant materials, stone, tile and bronze elements were repeated throughout, including using the gingko tree to complement Lalanne's bench. The designer's ultimate goal was to create spaces that invite relaxation and contemplation by residents and visitors alike.

Historical Photos
Little Lake Village at Santa Fe Springs

Residents install city identity signs on Telegraph Road in 1957 after the vote for incorporation was successful.	Sometime in the early 1920s the Little Lake School PTA staged a play in which they dressed up in the clothing of the previous generation. The event took place in front of the Little Lake School.	Residents of the newly formed city, Santa Fe Springs, celebrate their incorporation victory in 1957. The supporters of incorporation started as a neighborhood group and joined forces with the Chamber and Industrial League, now know as the Chamber of Commerce.
Photograph of students at Little Lake School. Date unknown.	The original Santa Fe Depot was mainly used for freight pick-up. In this 1963 photo, the depot is surrounded by metal derricks and a telegraph line. This building has been recreated at Heritage Park.	Teens posed for a publicity photograph to promote the incorporation movement in the late 1950s.
In this early 20th century photo the class is somber, and many of the children are shoeless. Little Lake School is in the background.	After oil was discovered in the 1920s, most homes were destroyed or moved to other locations. Derricks seem to sprout up everywhere, and were clustered tightly around the intersection of Telegraph Road and Norwalk Blvd.	Taken in the late 1800s, this photograph shows the congregation of the Methodist Church on a picnic.
In a rare photo taken shortly after it was built in 1885, Little Lake School features Carpenter Gothic style architecture, a bell tower and matching twin porches. The presence of many adults in the group might indicate that this was a community photograph rather than a class picture.