By Lookout Staff
September 3, 2009 -- After being driven from its original site by angry residents and fighting an uphill battle to raise funds, a proposed housing facility for young adults suffering from the early stages of mental illness is set to open in Santa Monica next week.
Run by Santa Monica-based Step Up on Second, Daniel's Village will provide permanent housing for adults ages 18 to 28 at the old Village Motel at 2624 Santa Monica Boulevard, which has been converted into eight housing units.
Set to open September 11, the units will house members of Daniel’s Place, a Step Up on Second program for young adults diagnosed with the initial symptoms of severe and persistent mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression.
Originally slated to go in Sunset Park, Daniel's Village generated heated opposition from local neighbors, who urged the City Council to relocate the facility after Step Up had entered into escrow for the property at 1826-1828 Pearl Street.
The current site also was opposed by neighboring residents who, like their Sunset Park counterparts, argued that it was too close to a school.
But the project was given the go-ahead by the council under a policy that gives staff the power to administratively approve eligible affordable housing projects of 50 or fewer units in areas not zoned for single-family residences.
The City pitched in more than $2 million to help convert the motel, and Step Up on second launched a fundraising drive that included the sale of art works by members of Daniel's Place.
The new facility is named for Daniel Greenberg -- son of Arthur Greenberg, a founding partner of the Los Angeles law firm Greenberg Glusker, and his wife, Audrey.
Daniel had his first psychotic break while attending the former Harvard School for Boys but was able to finish school with treatment and medication. He then spent several years at Step Up on Second, first as a client, then as a caseworker and outreach worker. He died in 1997.
Daniel’s Village is Step Up’s third building. The agency runs its flagship building on Second Street, which was built a quarter century ago and has 36 permanent housing units, as well as Step Up on Fifth, which has 46 units.
The agency has received more than $11 million from the City for the three projects.
