Green Urbanism
Perry, Garcetti Announce Green Communities Award Recipients
Local Awardees Show that Sustainability and Affordability Go Hand in Hand
Los Angeles - June 25, 2007 Council President Eric Garcetti and Councilmember Jan Perry joined Enterprise Community Partners and Global Green USA to announce the award recipients for the Los Angeles Green Communities Program. Launched in Los Angeles in April of 2007, the local chapter is part of a $555 million national program on behalf of Enterprise to provide financial incentives and technical assistance to affordable housing developments looking to green their projects, and to connect the health and economic benefits of green building to low-income communities.
“Sustainable living is not a privilege for the wealthy,” said Council President Eric Garcetti. “All of Los Angeles wants to go green. With the Los Angeles Green Communities Program, we are bringing the benefits of green buildings to households of all income levels.” “Affordable housing and green development are vital parts of building sustainable communities,” said Councilmember Jan Perry, chair of the Council’s Energy and the Environment committee. “I am excited to be a part of the Enterprise Green Communities Program. It is the interest of all to create models of green affordable housing in the City of Los Angeles.”
Working with the Los Angeles City Council and Global Green USA, Enterprise Community Partners and the Los Angeles Green Communities Program have selected 3 affordable housing developers to receive grants. Approved projects have met overall standards of sustainability, and will include features like solar panels, solar water heaters, and energy efficient appliances.
“We are excited to join the city of Los Angeles in announcing the local affordable housing developers to receive Enterprise Green Communities grants,” said Jeff Schaffer, the Southern California Director of Enterprise Community Partners. “The greening of these projects provides a model for the future direction of affordable housing development in our community.”
“This innovative effort will help the city in its pursuit of providing safe and healthy housing and its commitments to environmental protection and taking action on climate change,” said Walker Wells, head of the Green Building Program for Global Green USA. “It is exciting to have this opportunity to contribute our green affordable housing expertise in Los Angeles, where we are headquartered, after working on projects in San Francisco, New York City and New Orleans for more than a decade.”
Each project was awarded $75,000 and will receive technical assistance from Green Communities staff. They are as follows:
Rittenhouse Square – Rittenhouse Limited Partnership
Rittenhouse Square is a 5-story, 76,382 square foot mixed use building consisting of 99 low and very low income senior apartment units, one additional manager’s unit, and 4,000 square feet of commercial/retail space. The development will provide 54 parking spaces for residents, and 12 parking spaces for commercial patrons and guests. The project will provide the following amenities on-site for residents: Community room, including kitchen, lounge and seating area, community laundry room, multi-social room, workout room, computer room, LEED-certified, green rooftop garden, bbq/picnic area.
Hyde Park – EHOP
Hyde Park consists of 14 new construction townhome units to be located in South LA. The homes will be sold to low and moderate income first time home buyers. Ecah home will have 3-bedrooms with a 2-car garage and yard. The project blends into the existing neighborhood fabrics, takes advantage of existing public transportation and offers to the community an ecologically responsible environment.
Seven Maples – Los Angeles Housing Partnership
Seven Maples is a 57 unit 1-bedroom apartment development for low income seniors in the MacArthur Park area. The development also includes a community room and learning center, 2 laundry rooms, and a central landscaped courtyard. Each unit is designed to have 95% maximum day lighting and flow-through ventilation. Other green design items include solar water heating and recycled materials.
Bronson Court – Los Angeles Housing Partnership
Bronson Court is a 32 unit 1-3 bedroom apartment development for low income families in Hollywood. The development includes a community room, learning center, laundry room, central landscaped courtyard and circulation light well, and private balconies. The development will promote neighborhood stability by contributing to the neighborhood effort to eliminate blight and providing an example of sustainable design in the neighborhood.
