Green Urbanism
Vista Dunes housing complex is affordable and 'green'
THE DESERT SUN. Aug 31, 2008. By Maricar Mendoza
The streets are quiet and nearly empty at the gated community of Vista Dunes in La Quinta — but not for long.
The affordable, “green” housing complex has been moving in residents since May and is quickly filling its units.
So far, however, those with boxes still needing to be unpacked and others completely settled in are enjoying their new digs.
“I've lived in apartments all my life and I love it here,” said Rudy Cortez, who moved in with his family about two weeks ago.
Shannon Kienzle and her 8-year-old daughter, Zoe, will be coming up on their one month anniversary next week at the complex and agree.
“Actually, her favorite part is the toilet,” Kienzle said of Zoe's fascination with the two-button flushing toilet.
The water-conserving commode has one button for liquid waste and the other for solid waste.
And the industrial look of the units — from its concrete floors to its metal door handles — is a plus for both Kienzle and Cortez.
Cortez because he has allergies, and Kienzle because of the easy maintenance.
“Zoe loves cleaning the floors,” Kienzle said, laughing.
Vista Dunes,off Miles Avenue near Adams Street, received the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes Platinum certification for green building standards in August.
Vista Dunes is the first project in the Coachella Valley to receive the certification, which also made it the nation's largest multi-family affordable housing project to achieve the Platinum level of certification, said Ted Bardacke senior program associate with Global Green USA, an environmental nonprofit organization that helped in the certification process.
The certification program, known as LEED, is run by the U.S. Green Building Council.
The more than 300 low-income renters are expected to benefit from energy- and water-saving features from the platinum-certified project.