Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. (Enterprise) and MetLife Foundation recognized the winners of the 2009 MetLife Foundation Award for Excellence in Affordable Housing at the annual meeting for the American Association of
Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) in Chicago. The awards have been presented by Enterprise and MetLife Foundation for the last 14 years and honor affordable housing project. This years competition focused on the senior housing segment with special consideration for properties that incorporate environmentally friendly design. Each winner of the competition received a $50,000 unrestricted award.
“With the growth of the country’s older population, the need for affordable, well-maintained housing for seniors is more vital than ever,” said Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation. “We are pleased to join Enterprise in recognizing the winners, who are meeting this need through affordable, green housing that promotes seniors’ health and well-being and strengthens communities.”
The winners are:
- Lytton Gardens I – Located in Palo Alto, Calif., Lytton Gardens I is home to 417 seniors with low incomes and provides 24-hour care for its residents. Owned by Lytton Gardens Senior Communities, the 35-year-old property offers an extremely creative approach to green rehabilitation that includes extensive improvements for energy efficiency and water conservation. Lytton Gardens I is a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recognized
property, providing an extensive array of services to support aging in place. It also provides onsite experience for physicians enrolled in the Stanford University Fellowship in Advanced Geriatrics. - The Marvin – Located in Norwalk, Conn., The Marvin is owned by 60 Gregory Boulevard Limited Partnership with Under One Roof, Inc.TM acting as the general partner and managing agent. A unique intergenerational facility, The Marvin provides 52 seniors with affordable, interactive housing and offers three- and four-year olds affordable, early childhood education at The Marvin Children’s Center, located on The Marvin campus. The Marvin, which recently celebrated its 12th anniversary, fosters strong connections between the senior residents and children, and provides an innovative approach to providing a breadth of supportive services that promote aging in place, as well as independent living.
- Mission Creek Senior Community – Located in San Francisco and owned by Mercy Housing California, Mission Creek Senior Community is located on an acre of a former industrial site and is part of the Mission Bay North redevelopment project. Near extensive public transportation services, the seven-story building offers 139 affordable apartments for seniors, including seniors who are formerly homeless, those living with HIV/AIDS and others with special needs; an on-site adult day health center; and support services specifically designed for the most frail. The building was constructed with green building techniques and materials to Excellence in Affordable Housing minimize the depletion of natural resources and increase energy efficiency and water conservation.
- Station Place Tower – Located in Portland, Ore., and owned by REACH Community Development Corporation, the 14-story building was constructed in 2005 and offers active seniors a convenient, green living experience near downtown. With 176 affordable apartments, Station Place Tower caters to the specific needs of the aging through tailored supportive services and a healthier, greener environment with rooftop gardens, a rainwater harvesting system and other energy-efficient technologies that are intended to lower the use of gas, electricity and water by 30 percent.
“It is a pleasure to continue our partnership with MetLife Foundation, and to continually see such dynamic and innovative work coming from leaders in the community development field,” said Naomi Bayer, senior vice president, National Initiatives and Innovation, Enterprise Community Partners. “By recognizing strong housing opportunities from our peers, we are helping to highlight some of the very best practices in the industry for serving seniors.”
