The goal of this project was to reposition an underutilized former Board and Care into a high-quality, program-ready interim shelter through an adaptive reuse strategy. Beginning in 2019, DAECO partnered with the original ownership group to establish a long-term vision for renovating the site to support interim shelter use while meeting the operational, regulatory, and programmatic needs required for successful service delivery. The project was designed to be flexible and capable of serving multiple populations, allowing it to adapt quickly once a target population was identified.

Like many complex adaptive reuse projects, this site faced significant challenges early in the process. An initial transaction fell apart, creating uncertainty around the future of the project. The building also required extensive upgrades to meet current ADA, fire life safety, and interim shelter standards, while maintaining cost efficiency and minimizing long-term maintenance risks. Additional challenges included navigating a lengthy entitlement and construction process, coordinating across multiple stakeholders, and ultimately leasing the property within a particularly difficult public-sector funding environment in 2025. Designing a site that could accommodate multiple populations—before a specific program operator or user was identified—added another layer of complexity to the project.

Rather than disengage, DAECO remained committed to the site and leveraged its deep understanding of the interim shelter landscape and off-market relationships to identify and source a new buyer aligned with the project’s mission. The property was acquired through an off-market transaction, allowing the project to move forward under ownership committed to execution.

Under new ownership, DAECO delivered comprehensive, end-to-end services. We developed the initial schematic design and overall design concept, incorporating trauma-informed design principles to support better client outcomes. We led the entitlement process, navigated ADA and fire life safety requirements, and project-managed a year-long renovation that fully repositioned the former Board and Care facility through adaptive reuse.
The renovated site was intentionally designed to be program-ready and operationally efficient, with ADA accessibility throughout, staff offices with clear lines of sight across all three floors, staff break rooms, secure perimeter fencing, designated staff parking and ADA van access, and durable materials selected to reduce long-term maintenance and replacement costs.

Upon completion, DAECO led the marketing and leasing of the property, successfully leasing the site directly to the City of Los Angeles. We worked closely with Council District 5, bridging private real estate with public-sector and nonprofit stakeholders during a challenging funding environment. The result is a turnkey interim housing site that reflects the full scope of DAECO’s expertise and our ability to deliver complex projects from vision through lease execution.

In partnership with private owner, we applied our adaptive reuse experience to transform a vacant 4 unit apartment building into an emergency shelter in Koreatown. Under prior ownership, this building was used for illegal short-term rentals which lower housing supply and increase rental costs. Our goal was to provide critically needed interim housing supply at a reduced cost compared to new construction.

Developing a cohesive interim facility from four individual units presented a challenge. Creating a space that is client centered while supporting the needs of the Operator/ Service Provider was our ultimate goal with this project. The building location provides for many neighborhood amenities however outdoor space on the site was limited which required a creative approach to include open space within the premises. In addition, we began our entitlement and construction phases prior to the passage of ED1; which presented a more challenging and arduous permitting process.

DAECO conducted a feasibility assessment including due diligence of the site to examine the conditions of the major building systems along with the framework for the necessary building upgrades and code requirements for an interim housing shelter. Our team also developed a schematic design to include trauma informed design principals, maximizing outdoor space and incorporating necessary ADA and Fire-life safety features. DAECO along with ownership, engaged an architect and engineers to entitle the site and led the construction process to produce a cohesive site with case management offices & break room, private outdoor space and designated smoking area.