Photo by PhotoJenInc/Flickr
The former Linda Vista Hospital in Boyle Heights closed more than 20 years ago but it has been far from vacant. The hospital overlooking Hollenbeck Park has proven to be a popular spot for TV and movie shoots as well as believers in the paranormal, who have promoted the nearly century-old hospital as one of L.A.’s most haunted places. But the hospital’s days of hosting movie shoots and paranormal investigations is quickly coming to and end after the entire hospital property on the 600 block of St. Louis Street has been purchased by an affordable housing developer, which plans to build about 100 units of senior housing and medical offices within the landmark structure. Construction work on the first phase of the approximately $37 million project is scheduled to begin early next year, said Maurice Ramirez, executive vice president for AMCAL, an affordable housing developer.
“With the shortage of housing and affordable housing, this is a good fit with what can be done with the building,” Ramirez said.
AMCAL purchased the property a few years after a previous developer announced plans to convert the hospital, a national historic landmark, into market-rate condos. But those plans fell apart with the economy.
Ramirez said the firm plans to renovate the two major buildings on the site – the main hospital building and a former nurses’ residence – that have been recognized as historic landmarks. The first phase of construction would begin in February on the nurses building,which will be converted into 24 apartments for seniors on limited incomes. The, second, more ambitious part of the project would include building 74 apartments in the upper floors of the main hospital and ground floor medical offices. AMCAL still needs to find funds to convert the main hospital but he said work could begin at the end of 2012.
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
scary
Just biking by the place at night gave me the heebeejeebees. Still, I’ll kind of miss it when it’s gone.
The main buildings will remain but will be filled with senior citizens instead of ghosts.
Ah. Well, if the main buildings will simply be repurposed, there won’t be seniors there “instead of” ghosts but rather with them. :)
Glad to see that the hospital will now fall in to the hands of a organization with a useful cause and aim for the welfare of people and serving the community as opposed to sole profit and misguidance in the paranormal community.
Very good! I’m hoping this means Ghost Adventures won’t be back!
“Okay Grandma. This is where you’ll be living now…FOR ETERNITY”
It’s a shame to see this unique historic landmark become renovated into senior housing. Linda Vista Community Hospital has an outstanding resume of history attached to it. I will hate to see it go, although I dont know how the senior’s are going to feel about being accompanied by angry spirits after the renovation is complete. The hauntings at Linda Vista are sincerely real, i’ve encountered a spirit their myself along with some of my family members. We decided to talk our way into the insane asylum where the mental patients were stationed. I’ve been touched and also heard voices& screams of a woman and baby. My cousin and I felt and heard someone walk right by me and him, as we turned to see who was there,we saw no signs of anyone playing a hoax. We automatically new that we weren’t alone so we quickly ran into one of the patients room with the rest of our group. These ghostly spirits are stuck at Linda Vista for reasons we will never know for sure, but one thing I do know is they want to be left alone in ther last resting place called home. Therefore I stand by not renovating this historical landmark:) Do the right thing!
I’d love to check this place out and take some photos before they renovate/demolish it. Here’s hoping it’s not too late.
I am not sure how safe it would be for any people to live there if there are a lot of spirits hanging around. The residents might have a heart attack if they see an apparition or are scared to death by any lingering spirits. I wouldn’t want to live there.
you peolpe are crazy, this hospital is one of the most intrasting parts of boyle hieghts destroying it would be like destroying a peice of the people who live in this neighborhood.