28th Street YMCA

The 28th Street YMCA is a 1926 building with Spanish Colonial features including red Granada clay tiles, arched windows, terra cotta designs, and carved panels showing historical figures. Today it houses forty-nine studio apartments serving low-income residents and formerly homeless youth.

The building was designed in 1926 by architect Paul R. Williams and originally provided recreation facilities for African American residents during segregation in Los Angeles. Its creation showed that the Black community had spaces where they could gather and build their own institutions.

The building served as a gathering space where the community came together for meetings and events that shaped social life in the neighborhood. Its Spanish Colonial design with red clay tiles and arched features made it a visually distinct landmark that people recognized as their own.

The building is located on East 28th Street in South Los Angeles and is accessible by public transportation. Since it now operates as private residential housing, visitors can appreciate the exterior from the street while being respectful of current residents.

The original facility included fifty-two dormitory rooms, a gymnasium, and a swimming pool, making it a self-contained community space. It remains one of only two clubhouse buildings in Los Angeles that were specifically built for African Americans in the early 1900s.

Location: Los Angeles

Inception: 1926

Architects: Paul R. Williams, Norman Foote Marsh

Architectural style: Spanish Colonial Revival architecture

Address: 1006 East 28th Street

GPS coordinates: 34.01694,-118.25722

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:09