Century Housing, Charles R. Drew University Win County Approval for 254-Unit Affordable Campus in Willowbrook
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved final land use entitlements for the CDU Wellness & Education Campus in Willowbrook, advancing a mixed-use development that will deliver 254 affordable homes alongside research, bioscience, student housing, and recreational facilities adjacent to Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science.
Century Housing Housing is leading the affordable housing component of the project, which is being developed in partnership with Charles R. Drew University through the CDU/MLK Wellness Collaborative. The Board's June 30, 2026, action also certified the project's environmental review and approved a long-term ground lease, establishing formal site control for the campus.
Project Scope and Program
The CDU Wellness & Education Campus is located in Willowbrook and is described as a mixed-use development adjacent to the existing CDU campus. The development is structured as a ground lease, with development rights transferred to the project team via a long-term leasehold.
Century Housing's affordable housing component will provide up to 254 deed-restricted homes for families, seniors, and individuals with special needs, with income targeting set between 30% and 80% of area median income. The broader campus program also includes student, faculty, and workforce housing; research and bioscience space; recreational facilities; community-serving open space; and a pedestrian promenade connecting the campus to surrounding neighborhoods.
Entitlement Milestone
The Board's approval of final land use entitlements and certification of the environmental review resolves significant regulatory hurdles for the project. Together with the long-term ground lease, the actions establish the site control required to advance the project toward construction. No financing terms, loan amounts, or construction cost figures have been publicly disclosed.
"This milestone reflects years of collaboration and a shared commitment to Willowbrook," said Oscar Alvarado, Senior Vice President of Century Affordable Development, Inc., in a press release issued by Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell's office. "Through the Charles Drew Wellness Campus, we have the privilege of bringing 254 affordable homes for families and seniors to Willowbrook while helping realize a shared vision for a campus that will serve as a community asset for generations to come."
Willowbrook Context
The CDU Wellness & Education Campus is designed as a mixed-use development integrated with the existing Charles R. Drew University campus. The campus is intended to strengthen educational, housing, health, and employment opportunities in Willowbrook, with the pedestrian promenade designed to physically connect the new development to the surrounding neighborhood.
Century Housing noted that Willowbrook holds particular organizational significance. The firm traces its origins to a landmark housing settlement stemming from the construction of the Century Freeway, now Interstate 105, which runs through communities including Willowbrook. That settlement, overseen by Judge Harry Pregerson, laid the foundation for what became Century Housing more than 30 years ago.
Partners and Next Steps
Century Housing said it looks forward to continuing its partnership with Charles R. Drew University, Los Angeles County, and Compton Unified School District as the project moves toward construction. No construction start date or project timeline has been publicly announced.
Sources:
Century Housing — CDU Wellness & Education Campus Plans Move Forward
Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell's Office — CDU New Affordable Housing