Neighborhood council approves controversial development

While transportation board members were almost unanimous in their approval of the Lorena Plaza mixed-use development project, the low-income apartment building is still controversial among some Boyle Heights residents. The developer has said that half of the apartments will be reserved for veterans with special needs — mental or physical disabilities or a history of homelessness. Those who oppose it say the occupants will introduce undesirable elements and other problems to the neighborhood. "Some speakers at the meeting said the development would add traffic to an already jammed intersection, particularly on weekends when El Mercado receives a large number of visitors. But others said they welcomed the project because of the need for low-income housing, especially for veterans." Read more about it on Boyle Heights Beat.