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James Bonar, F.A.I.A

Executive Director

Professional Experience:

  • Clifford Beers Housing, Inc. April 2005 – present
  • Skid Row Housing Trust, Los Angeles, Executive Director, October, 1998 – November, 2004
  • Cavaedium Architects, Los Angeles, President, 1990 – September, 1998
  • Archiplan, Urban Design Collaborative, Los Angeles, Principal, 1986 – 1989
  • Dworsky Associates, Associate, Los Angeles, 1968 and 1981 – 1986
  • Los Angeles Community Design Center, Founding Executive Director, 1972 – 1981
  • Stanley Consultants, Muscatine, Iowa, Director of Architectural Design, 1969 – 1972
  • U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer, Community Development Specialist & Professor, School of Architecture, Universidad Mayor de San Simon, Cochabamba, Bolivia, 1965 – 1967

Community Development:

Over the past thirty five years Mr. Bonar has played a leadership role in the conception and delivery of community development through a variety of endeavors. His achievements include re-establishing the Skid Row Housing Trust as a leading developer of supportive housing for homeless and very low income people; establishing the Los Angeles Community Design Center as a leading not-for-profit in the planning and production of housing in Southern California; launching community based not-for-profit development corporations in Hollywood and West Hollywood; establishment of commercial neighborhood revitalization projects in Bellflower, Glendale, Reseda and Canoga Park; contributed to establishment of community supported redevelopment projects in downtown Los Angeles, Muscatine, Iowa, and the eastern sector of West Hollywood.

Affordable Housing:

Mr. Bonar’s housing experience includes design, finance and development of both new multifamily units as well as substantial rehabilitation of existing housing stock for low income people. These projects include the adaptive reuse of fourteen downtown Los Angeles single-room-occupancy hotels to permanent housing for low income people and housing for people with HIV/AIDS in Hollywood, West Hollywood and Silver Lake. With Clifford Beers Housing, Mr. Bonar is launching a new housing production venture focused on integrating consumers of mental health services with the broader community.

Education:

  • Master in Architecture, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1965
  • Bachelor of Architecture, University of Southern California, 1964

Awards:

2011
  • “Special Needs Project of the Year Award”, awarded to the Courtyards in Long Beach Housing, by the
    Southern California Association of NonProfit Housing
2010
  • “1000 HOMES Innovation in Community Improvement Award”, awarded to Elm Avenue Apartments and the Courtyards in Long Beach Housing by the Urban Land Institute
2005
  • Historic Preservation Award, St. George Hotel, by the Los Angeles Conservancy
2004
  • “Project of the Year Award”, awarded to the St. George Hotel by the Southern California
2003
  • “Developer of the Year Award”, Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing, presented to Skid Row Housing Trust
1998
  • Award of Merit, American Institute of Architects, California Council, Bellflower Blvd. Commercial
    Revitalization Program.
  • Award of Excellence, Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce, Silver Lake New Hope Courtyard Apartments.
  • Special Honorable Mention Award, California Tax Credit Coalition, Produce Place, mixed use low income housing, artist in residence and commercial office/retail.
1997
  • Award of Merit, American Institute of Architects, California Council, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Linn House, AIDS Hospice.