Skid Row Housing Trust (SRHT), long known for converting vacant buildings into apartments for the formerly homeless, may be embarking on its largest project yet.

Yesterday, plans were filed with the City of Los Angeles to construct a 14-story, 150-unit low-income housing complex at 609-623 E. 5th Street.  The project site, located mid-block between Crocker Street and Towne Avenue, are currently developed with the St. Marks and Crescent Hotels, both of which were converted for residential use by SRHT in the early 1990s.  It is unclear how the proposed development would effect these buildings, which comprise approximately 140 dwelling units between them.

The Weingart Center has proposed a similar 14-story development one block west adjacent to its facility on San Pedro Street.