SoLa Impact Advances Modular Housing Manufacturing Campus in South LA

• SoLa Impact has been selected to negotiate redevelopment plans for a city-owned site in South Los Angeles.
• The proposal includes a 175,000-square-foot modular housing manufacturing facility, office space, vocational training, and public open space.
• The project aims to expand affordable housing production while creating jobs and workforce development opportunities.

What the Honeycomb Project Includes

A major modular housing manufacturing and workforce development campus could soon take shape in South Los Angeles following a key vote by the Los Angeles City Council. The city approved an exclusive negotiating agreement with SoLa Impact for the redevelopment of a nine-acre city-owned property near Central Avenue. The proposed project, known as "The Honeycomb," would transform the former industrial site into a mixed-use employment and innovation hub. At the center of the proposal is a 175,000-square-foot manufacturing facility operated by Model/Z, SoLa Impact’s modular housing subsidiary.

What the Manufacturing Facility Will Do

The facility would focus on producing modular housing units that can be used in affordable and mixed-income housing developments across Southern California. Modular construction has gained increasing attention as developers seek faster and more cost-effective ways to address housing shortages while reducing construction timelines. The proposed campus is intended to replicate and expand upon Model/Z’s existing manufacturing operation, which began production in 2024 and currently employs hundreds of workers.

What Other Uses Are Planned for the Site

Beyond manufacturing, the project would include corporate office space, a vocational training school, a technology center, and publicly accessible open space. Plans call for landscaped gardens, courtyards, rooftop solar panels, and community gathering areas designed to support neighborhood events and public engagement. Developers also intend to separate industrial operations from residential areas through strategic site planning and buffering elements.

What This Means for Affordable Housing Production

The proposal aligns with SoLa Impact’s broader mission of increasing affordable housing production throughout South Los Angeles. The company has developed a substantial pipeline of affordable and mixed-income housing communities and increasingly relies on modular construction to accelerate delivery while controlling costs. By combining manufacturing, workforce training, and community space within a single campus, the project seeks to create a long-term ecosystem supporting both housing production and economic development.

What Local Leaders Are Saying

The project has received support from Marqueece Harris-Dawson, who advocated for approval of the negotiating agreement. City officials view the proposal as an opportunity to activate underutilized public land while supporting job creation, workforce development, and affordable housing goals. The site itself has remained largely unused since its former role as a Caltrans maintenance and storage facility ended decades ago.

What the Industry Will Watch Next

The agreement allows SoLa Impact and the City of Los Angeles to further evaluate the proposal and negotiate development terms before a final project agreement is considered. For developers and housing advocates, the project represents a growing trend toward integrating manufacturing and housing production strategies to address California’s ongoing affordability challenges. If completed, The Honeycomb could become one of the region’s most significant modular housing production hubs while helping expand affordable housing capacity throughout Los Angeles.