On a busy stretch of Airport Boulevard, a once-vacant dirt lot has been transformed into something quietly historic: Red Tail Crossing, Westchester’s first-ever 100 percent affordable housing development, is now complete. For Playa del Rey resident Tara Barauskas, executive director of Community Corporation of Santa Monica, the project is both a professional milestone and a deeply personal achievement.
“It’s been a long journey, and now we’re getting ready to celebrate,” says Tara.
Built with Intention
Located at 8333 Airport Boulevard, Red Tail Crossing brings 102 affordable apartments to Westchester for households earning between 15 and 60 percent of the Area Median Income. The development includes a mix of 50 one-bedroom, 27 two-bedroom, and 25 three-bedroom units, with 40 of the one-bedroom apartments reserved for formerly unhoused individuals and people with disabilities.
Designed as a stepped-back, two to five-story building, the project balances density with neighborhood sensitivity. Residents will have access to a community center with classrooms and a kitchen, a playground, BBQ and picnic areas, wellness and fitness spaces, on-site laundry, secure bicycle parking, and 78 parking spaces. The all-electric building features solar panels, Energy Star appliances, and EV charging stations, reflecting a commitment to environmental sustainability, as well as affordability.
But Tara is quick to point out that Red Tail Crossing is about more than modern design features.
“This is the first time in my 27-year career that I’ve been able to build affordable housing in my own neighborhood,” she says. “That makes this project incredibly meaningful.”
Why Westchester and Why Now
Community Corporation of Santa Monica was founded in 1982 by community leaders concerned about gentrification displacing longtime residents. Today, the nonprofit owns and operates roughly 2,000 affordable apartments across Santa Monica and Los Angeles County.
When Tara joined the organization nine years ago, she challenged its geographic boundaries.
“The whole Westside is unaffordable,” she says. “Westchester is a high-quality community with good schools, jobs nearby, and access to resources. Affordable housing should exist here, not just farther east or farther away.”
Her perspective was shaped by personal observation. Teachers at her children’s schools routinely commuted from places like Santa Clarita just to work in Westchester classrooms.
“That kind of commute steals time from families and from communities,” Tara says. “People should be able to live near where they work.”
Housing That’s in Demand
The need for Red Tail Crossing became undeniable during the application process. For 102 apartments, more than 8,000 households applied through the City of Los Angeles lottery system.
“That number still breaks my heart,” Tara says. “It means thousands of families who need housing didn’t get it. But it also makes clear just how urgent this crisis is.”
Rents at Red Tail Crossing range roughly from $380 to $2,080 per month, depending on household size and income. It’s a dramatic contrast to market-rate rents in Westchester, where a one-bedroom apartment often exceeds $2,500.
“These are just low rents,” Tara says. “It’s not a housing project. It’s a regular apartment building built with public funding so people can actually afford to live here.”
Recognizing the Past, and Making Changes
The name Red Tail Crossing honors the Tuskegee Airmen, the pioneering Black military pilots of World War II. The aviation theme reflects Westchester’s proximity to LAX, while also recognizing a legacy often overlooked.
Local artist David Russell created murals depicting the Tuskegee Airmen, integrated throughout the building and visible from the street.
The site itself carries a complicated history. During development, Tara discovered a restrictive covenant dating back to the 1940s that barred non-white residents from living on the property.
“I had to decide whether to walk away or fight,” she says.
Tara chose to fight, spending more than a year working with attorneys and state lawmakers to change the law and neutralize the discriminatory restrictions.
When the Issue Becomes Personal
Tara’s commitment to housing justice is rooted in lived experience. After her divorce, she attempted to rent a home in Westchester to keep her children in their schools.
“The landlord told me he wouldn’t rent to me because I was a single mom with two kids,” she says. “He said he didn’t think I could pay the rent.”
She eventually found housing through a friend in Playa del Rey, but the experience stayed with her.
“That was the first time I personally faced housing discrimination,” she says. “And I know others experience far worse.”
Working With the Neighborhood
Early reactions to Red Tail Crossing were mixed, with some nearby residents raising concerns about height and density. In response, Community Corporation undertook extensive outreach and made meaningful design changes, says Tara.
“We wanted to show that affordable housing can enhance a neighborhood, not overwhelm it,” she says.
As the project neared completion, skepticism gave way to support, especially when one neighbor who was initially opposed to the project, donated items at a welcome basket event for incoming residents. Today, landscaped grounds, public art, and a new community room for gatherings signal a growing sense of connection even before all residents have moved in.
A Village Steps In
Local Girl Scouts, led by Westchester resident Becky Cunningham, played a key role in welcoming new residents by organizing a book drive. With support from The Book Jewel and other community members, more than 1,000 books were collected–enough to create two libraries.
“That kind of generosity shows what this community is capable of,” Tara says.
A New Chapter for Westchester
Residents are already moving in, and the official ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for February 27.
For Tara, Red Tail Crossing represents what’s possible when affordable housing is approached with care, accountability, and community partnership.
“This isn’t just about apartments,” she says. “It’s about building a place where people can belong.”
Story by Shanee Edwards. Photos by Zsuzsi Steiner.