Today, developer Thomas Safran & Associates, Clifford Beers Housing and Long Beach city officials will celebrate the opening of Immanuel Place, a new senior affordable housing complex built into a former church.

Located at 3215 E. 3rd Street, the adaptive reuse project created 24 one-bedroom apartments for low-income seniors, including 15 units for those currently or at risk of becoming homeless.

The repuroposed building - originally known as the Immanuel Church - was built in 1922 for the American Baptist Association.  Architect W. Horace Austin designed the building, which was vacated and purchased by Thomas Safran & Associates in 2012.

The property was recently recognized as one of a handful of affordable housing projects in the pipeline for the City of Long Beach.