A former Los Angeles public housing site now offers 100 affordable senior apartments to seniors who are at or below 30% of the L.A. County area median income. The green development, Dana Strand, officially opened on October 6 as the product of a partnership between the City of Los Angeles and ROEM Development Corporation. The $22.3 million facility has received the LEED silver designation for its sustainability and green features.
“The City of Los Angeles actively engages private partners that focus on solving the complex urban housing issues in Los Angeles,” said Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. “We believe that our residents are the ones who benefit the most from these public/private collaborations. Thanks to our partnership with ROEM, we are building affordable housing at the Dana Strand Senior development which the city has found to be indistinguishable from market-rate housing.”
The facility’s green features were designed with an eye toward water and energy efficiency such as low-flow plumbing fixtures and tankless water heaters, drought-tolerant plantings irrigated by reclaimed water, “Cool” roofs and Energy Star-rated lighting, windows and appliances. Architectural firm KTGY Group was the designer on the project.
Financing for the project included 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and tax-exempt bond financing from Freddie Mac’s Credit Enhancement Program. A partnership between Citi Community Capital and the L.A. Housing Department provided additional financial support for the $22.3 million project, which has been awarded 99 Project Section 8 vouchers through the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
More than 75% of construction waste for the project, even with the use of conventional wood frame construction, was recycled.
Written by Elizabeth Ecker
