BALDWIN PARK >> City officials gathered Thursday evening to celebrate the opening of a 69-unit affordable housing apartment complex that they hope will serve as a catalyst for revitalizing the downtown area.

The project, named Metro Village, provides one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments for families making 60 percent or less of the median county income.

More than 3,000 people applied to live in the four-story building, which is located at 14428 E. Ramona Blvd. and is within walking distance of the Baldwin Park Metrolink station. The building will also have 5,500 square feet of space for commercial retail.

The developer of the project, Santa Clara-based ROEM Corp., estimated in 2014 that the building would house about 338 people.

The complex is part of the city’s plan to provide more low-income housing through the federal program known as Section 8. When Baldwin Park opened its wait list for the program in August for the first time in 13 years, more than 8,400 people applied.

“There is a necessity for housing throughout Southern California,” said Mayor Manuel Lozano during the grand opening ceremony outside the complex.

“In Baldwin Park, this is just the beginning of this type of project because we need to continue to invest and provide this kind of opportunity.”

The building features a community lounge, a fitness room, a learning center and a barbecue area. Rent ranges from $442 to $931 a month for a one-bedroom apartment, $513 to $1,100 for a two-bedroom apartment and $581 to $1,258 for a three-bedroom apartment.

The $27 million project was funded by a 9 percent low-income housing tax credits allocation, as well as federal housing funds and a loan from the city.

The property, located next to the Baldwin Park Police Department, required demolishing the entry to the city’s jail and a police evidence room.

When the project was first proposed in 2014, Councilman Robert Pacheco said the city wanted to create a downtown district in the mold of Monrovia or Covina. At the time, some on the council wanted to pitch Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut to bring a satellite campus to the area, though the college later told the city it wasn’t interested.

Residents began moving in over the summer and by early August the complex was fully occupied.

Alicia Rodriguez, 30, moved to Metro Village from South Los Angeles with her 12-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son.

“It’s a great opportunity for me,” said Rodriguez, a single mom, adding that her old neighborhood was not where she wanted to raise her children. “They’re beautiful apartments.”

ROEM Chief Executive Officer and President Robert Emami said the project was five years in the making but that the result was a success.

“It took a lot of dedication and hard work,” Emami said. “The best part of my job is when I’m coming here for a grand opening and I see the families are happy and they have a roof over their heads.”