Last week, the Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo (HASLO), elected officials, project team members and the community gathered to celebrate the completion of the Anderson Hotel Apartments. Located on Monterey Street in downtown San Luis Obispo (SLO), the project will provide critical affordable housing for the community. Blach Construction (Blach), with designer Arris Studio Architects (Arris), performed significant renovation, seismic upgrades and historic preservation of the 1920s-era Historic Anderson Hotel.
“Rehabilitation of the Anderson Hotel Apartments has been a true community project, a sentiment that was certainly embodied at the grand opening celebration,” said Scott Collins, executive director of HASLO. “Thanks to the dedicated efforts of multiple city, county, state and federal agencies and elected officials, the project team and countless other contributors, we have succeeded in ensuring long-term safe and affordable housing for deserving seniors in our community. We are proud of what we have accomplished. It is proof that together, we can accomplish big things.”
Originally constructed in 1923, the Anderson Hotel was converted to apartments in 1978. After operating the building for 20 years, HASLO purchased it in 2023, partnering with Blach to modernize and preserve the five-story, 72,000 sq.ft. historic building to provide quality affordable housing for the county’s most vulnerable.
Now complete, it encompasses 66 affordable dwelling units, two managers’ units, a large lobby, community room, serving kitchen, public restrooms and several street-level retail storefronts. Furthermore, an onsite tenant and leasing office was added, enabling case managers to work closely with community partners to provide support services to residents.
“This was an extremely gratifying project for us, particularly given that our mission as contractors is rooted in enhancing communities,” said Kevin McIntosh, vice president at Blach Construction. “We are honored to have had the opportunity to partner with HASLO to rehabilitate the Anderson Hotel Apartments and deliver quality housing that will no doubt offer an increased sense of security to its residents.”
Work on the building was designed to greatly increase its stability, energy-efficiency and accessibility. This included significant structural upgrades, seismic retrofitting, all-new mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire (MEP-F) systems, as well as new windows, appliances, paint and light fixtures throughout. Structural partner, Buehler Engineering Inc., was instrumental in developing a meticulously coordinated seismic solution, designed specifically for the historic structure. These collaborative and innovative problem-solving efforts were key to the project’s success.
Completed on schedule in just 18 months, the extended Blach team coordinated closely with City officials and its planning department to ensure seamless delivery. Along with Arris and Buehler, they engaged a consultant to maintain the historical integrity of the building. This was particularly critical as key features were uncovered throughout construction that required meticulous attention. As an example, the discovery of historical arches from the building’s original 1923 courtyard necessitated an entire redesign of the project’s community room and kitchen to ensure they were incorporated.
In addition to the work performed, Blach utilized the iconic Anderson Hotel Apartments, and its close proximity to California Polytechnic University SLO, as an educational opportunity. The Blach team partnered with Cal Poly SLO’s Mechanical Engineering and Construction Management departments, offering site visits and tours to students, who then leveraged their learnings for their senior project.
Prior to construction, HASLO took great care in relocating all residents into safe and secure housing. Now that the Anderson Hotel Apartments has re-opened, some residents have moved back in and HASLO is working to actively fill the vacant units. Funding for this much-needed affordable housing project was made possible by the City of SLO, SLO County, the State of California (through Project Homekey), Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), and US Congressmember Salud Carbajal.
About the Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo (HASLO)
The Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo (HASLO) is committed to improving the communities of San Luis Obispo by providing quality, affordable housing, and resident services. Founded in 1968 as a public entity under California law, HASLO’s mission is to assist the county’s lower-income citizens in securing and maintaining long-term housing. HASLO operates collaborations focused on housing and services for the homeless, mental health clients, and persons in recovery from substance abuse disorders and is committed to excellence in program design and service delivery to ensure positive, community-focused outcomes. Learn more about HASLO at haslo.org.
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