Logos Faith Development and St Rest Friendship Baptist Church Break Ground on Affordable Housing Community in Los Angeles
Logos Faith Development, a Los Angeles-based impact-driven real estate developer, has officially broken ground on Phase One of a new affordable housing community in partnership with St Rest Friendship Baptist Church. The ceremony, held on May 26 in Los Angeles, marks a major milestone for the organization’s 2026 development pipeline and represents the company’s first groundbreaking completed independently without co-developer involvement.
The project is located at 709 W. Manchester Avenue in Los Angeles and is designed to provide affordable housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents while demonstrating the growing role of faith-based organizations in addressing California’s housing crisis.
Community leaders, local officials, and representatives from Los Angeles City Council District 8 attended the groundbreaking event alongside members of Logos Faith Development and St Rest Friendship Baptist Church. The gathering highlighted the importance of collaboration between faith communities, private developers, and public agencies in tackling the region’s ongoing shortage of affordable housing.
The St Rest development is intended to transform underutilized church-owned land into a community-focused housing project that combines affordability, supportive services, and long-term neighborhood investment. According to Logos Faith Development, the initiative aligns closely with the company’s mission of partnering with churches and mission-driven organizations to create scalable and financially sustainable housing solutions.
Pastor Martin Porter, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Logos Faith Development, emphasized that the project goes beyond simply constructing residential buildings. He said the broader goal is to create environments that inspire residents and provide opportunities for personal growth and stability.
“This project is not simply about developing a building,” Porter said during the groundbreaking ceremony. “It’s about my passion and vision for people to live in housing that has world-class interior design that inspires them on a daily basis, and to have access to life and vocational coaching that leads them to having lives worth living that are full of purpose and abundance.”
Porter added that the organization views its developments as investments in people rather than simply real estate projects. According to him, the goal is to help residents build stronger futures through stable housing, supportive services, and community engagement.
Pastor Torrey N. Collins of St Rest Friendship Baptist Church also spoke at the ceremony, describing the project as a reflection of the church’s commitment to serving the surrounding community in meaningful and practical ways.
“This project reflects our calling to serve our community in tangible ways,” Collins said. “By partnering with Logos Faith Development, we are transforming our land into a place of opportunity, dignity, and hope. Today’s groundbreaking is a testament to what can happen when faith, vision, and expertise come together.”
Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, who represents Council District 8, expressed support for the development and emphasized the urgent need for additional affordable housing throughout the city.
“Addressing our housing crisis is something everyone in Los Angeles should be invested in, and I look forward to the success of this project,” Harris-Dawson said.
Phase One of the St Rest project will include the construction of 62 affordable apartment homes designed for low- and moderate-income households. The four-story residential building will feature 53 one-bedroom units and nine two-bedroom units, providing housing options for individuals, couples, and small families.
The development will also include several on-site amenities intended to enhance the quality of life for residents. Plans call for a second-floor courtyard that will serve as a communal outdoor gathering space, along with 27 covered parking spaces for residents and visitors.
In addition, the project will include deeper affordability replacement units as part of its overall housing mix, helping ensure access for residents with the greatest financial need.
Funding for the first phase of construction was secured through a construction loan of approximately $15 million provided by Sunflower Bank. Developers expect Phase One to reach completion during the fourth quarter of 2027.
The full St Rest development will ultimately include a total of 138 one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartment units spread across neighboring parcels in a two-phase plan. Approximately 90% of the units will be reserved for low-income households under Section 8 affordability standards.
Beyond housing, the second phase of the project will also include the construction of a new worship and ministry space for St Rest Friendship Baptist Church. The expanded development is intended to strengthen the church’s role as a long-term community anchor while providing supportive housing opportunities for families and individuals in need.
Developers say the project demonstrates how churches and faith-based institutions can play a larger role in addressing housing shortages by leveraging underused land assets for community development purposes. Across California and other parts of the country, faith-based organizations are increasingly partnering with developers to create affordable housing on church-owned properties.
The St Rest development also reflects the broader growth strategy of Logos Faith Development. The company currently has a development pipeline valued at approximately $700 million and plans to deliver more than 2,000 affordable housing units in partnership with over 30 faith-based organizations.
Through these initiatives, Logos Faith Development has emerged as a growing leader in the faith-based affordable housing sector, particularly throughout Southern California. The organization’s approach combines mission-driven development with long-term financial sustainability and community-focused design.
In addition to supporting housing needs, the St Rest project is expected to contribute to local economic activity through construction spending, job creation, and future community investment. The development also strengthens Logos Faith Development’s ongoing fundraising and investor engagement initiatives by showcasing the company’s ability to deliver measurable social impact alongside financial performance.
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