LA County Clears Major Mixed-Use Campus for Charles R. Drew University

County Supervisors Approve CDU Wellness & Education Campus on Vacant Land

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has given final approval to the CDU Wellness & Education Campus, allowing Charles R. Drew University of Medicine & Science and affordable housing developer Century Housing to move forward on a large-scale mixed-use expansion in Willowbrook. The project turns two long-vacant parcels at 1667 East 118th Street and 1655 East 117th Street into a hub for health education, affordable living, and community amenities – directly across from the existing university campus.

The deal centers on a 99-year joint ground lease among the university, the Los Angeles County Development Authority, and the Compton Unified School District. The Board’s authorization gives the university long-term site control to develop five buildings in multiple phases. Century Housing will deliver 250 affordable apartments for households earning 30 to 80 percent of area median income, roughly $50,000 to $133,250 for a four-person family. Separately, the campus will include 200 student housing units and 50 affordable units for faculty and workforce members, directly addressing housing pressures for those who study and work at the historically Black university.

Life sciences are a core piece of the plan: more than 121,000 square feet of office, lab, and research space is programmed alongside a gym, indoor swimming pool, and a multi-purpose athletic field. When complete, a portion of East 118th Street will be converted into a pedestrian promenade linking the new buildings to the main CDU campus. The design team includes TCA Architects, MJS Landscape Architecture, master plan architect Frederick Fisher and Partners, and landscape architect Hood Design Studios.

Why the Willowbrook Project Matters for Affordable Housing and Higher Education

A Concentrated Push for Affordable Housing in South Los Angeles

The 250 family units arrive in a region where low- and moderate-income renters often compete for scarce inventory. Tying them to a university campus – the only historically Black medical school in the West – adds a layer of stability, as the developer can anchor rents to predictable campus employment and student demand. Century Housing, a mission-driven nonprofit, will target families earning between $50,000 and $133,250, a range that covers many healthcare support workers, school staff, and service employees in the area.

Charles R. Drew University’s Strategic Campus Expansion

For CDU, the wellness campus solves a decades-old problem: it has too little on-campus housing for its student body and faculty. The dedicated 200 student beds and 50 workforce units will make the university more attractive to prospective medical, nursing, and health sciences students who might otherwise face long commutes or insecure housing. The research and life sciences space – over 121,000 square feet – positions CDU to deepen its research partnerships and potentially spin out health-tech ventures, all within a campus that now integrates community care and academics physically.

Public- Private Collaboration and Ground Lease Logic

The 99-year ground lease is the critical legal tool. By stitching together land owned by the LA County Development Authority and the Compton Unified School District, the arrangement avoids costly land acquisition and ensures public oversight while giving the university and its developer the long-term security needed to finance the project. This structure is increasingly common for underutilized public parcels in Los Angeles but still demands careful coordination between multiple government agencies, each with its own timeline and reporting requirements.

From Vacant Blight to a Health and Education Anchor

The site has sat empty for years kitty-corner to the CDU campus, a stark contrast to the university’s role as a training ground for doctors and public health professionals in a historically underserved part of the county. The design – with a pedestrian promenade replacing a stretch of East 118th Street – signals an intention to knit the campus into the neighborhood physically and psychologically. Housing, athletics, and commercial labs together create foot traffic that can support retail and make the blocks safer, a classic placemaking bet that will be tested as phases roll out over several years.

What the Approval Means for Residents, Students, and Investors

For households seeking affordable housing: Century Housing will likely open waitlists or application rounds for the 250 income-restricted units as construction phases near completion. Monitor Century Housing’s website and local housing authority notices for income-eligibility details tied to the 30–80% AMI brackets ($50,000–$133,250 for a family of four).

For CDU students and staff: The 200 student units and 50 workforce units will significantly alter the housing equation for those on campus. Students should watch for housing lottery or priority systems that may give preference to enrollees in health sciences programs. Faculty and university employees can expect the workforce housing to come with rent levels below market, a key retention tool.

For life sciences firms and contractors: The 121,000-square-foot lab and office component will create procurement and tenancy opportunities. Companies focused on health equity, clinical trials, or medical devices may find a strategic location adjacent to a research university with strong community ties. Local subcontractors and suppliers should track the university’s capital projects office and Century Housing’s development timeline for bid announcements.

For local businesses and property owners: The phased construction and eventual pedestrian promenade promise increased daytime population and foot traffic along East 118th Street. Retail and service operators near the campus should plan for a multi-year growth curve as students, researchers, and residents gradually arrive.