Assemblyman Todd Gloria, Councilman Chris Ward and others Friday celebrated the opening of North Park Seniors, which is being called San Diego’s first LGBT-affirming senior housing community.

The public was invited to attend the celebration, which began 10 a.m. at the apartment complex at 4200 Texas St.

Studies suggest the need for LGBT-friendly housing continues to outpace demand amid rental discrimination cases. The building will have 76 affordable apartments for qualified people 55 and older; seniors of all sexual orientations and gender identities will be welcome.

“This community is the product of years of advocacy, hard work and collaboration between nonprofits, neighborhood leaders, elected officials and San Diego community members. We are proud to build a brighter future for all San Diego seniors with this LGBT-affirming community,”  said Sue Reynolds, president and CEO of Community HousingWorks, which developed the building.

Community HousingWorks, a national affordable housing developer, built North Park Seniors in partnership with the San Diego LGBT Center.

There are only a handful of LGBT-affirming senior communities in the U.S.

“North Park Seniors is much more than just a building,” resident Terry Vaughan said. “For many of us that live here, a home like this is a dream decades in the making.”

The $28 million project was funded by a handful of public and private partners, including the San Diego Housing Commission.