THE COMMONS at The Groves was originally built in 1930 as a commissary to serve the wards and officers of the Fred C. Nelles Youth Correctional Facility in Whittier, California. It served as the dining facility for the School until 1962, when it was remodeled into Protestant and Catholic Chapels with classroom space added to the wing previously used as a kitchen. The building is designed in the Tudor Revival Style and eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

Brookfield Residential Properties acquired the Complex and its historic buildings to create a new residential community while re-purposing select structures on the site. The Commissary being the feature historic building, has been renovated and re-purposed into THE COMMONS: a community center serving over 740 new residences. A fitness center, classrooms, events lounge, game room, new pool and play areas have added to the previously underutilized interior/exterior space now available to residents of The Groves.