New Affordable Housing Offers Green Benefits
KTGY Group Inc., Architecture + Planning, has announced the opening of a green affordable community called The Crossings on 29th Street in South Los Angeles.
Los Angeles—Los Angeles is getting more eco-friendly. KTGY Group Inc., Architecture + Planning, has announced the opening of a green affordable community called The Crossings on 29th Street in South Los Angeles. The project was developed by Urban Housing Communities LLC in collaboration with the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles and Councilmember Jan Perry of District 9 in Los Angeles.
The Crossings on 29th Street provides housing for families earning between 30 percent and 60 percent of the area median income. Rent ranges from $521 to $1,265 a month, based on family size and income level.
The community includes 24 two-bedroom townhouses and 10 three-bedroom apartments occupying three three-story buildings.
“The apartment homes at The Crossings on 29th Street are larger than the state minimums in terms of square footage (both the housing and the amenity spaces),” Alan Scales, KTGY Group’s studio director, tells MHN. “The residences also provide individual private entries at grade, not often found in garden style apartments, giving the neighborhood the look and feel of its market rate counterpart.”
Amenities in each unit include a covered balcony, walk-in closets, central heat and air conditioning, Energy Star appliances, water-saving kitchen and bathroom appliances and dual-flush toilets. The design exceeds Title 24 efficiency standards by more than 30 percent, which lowers energy consumptions for residents.
Additional green elements include solar panels on carports to generate electricity; flooring, railings, furniture and recycling receptacles made from recycled content; and zero-VOC interior paints and low-VOC interior finishes.
“The Crossings on 29th Street effectively blends eco-friendly housing with free supportive resident onsite services and community amenities,” Scales says. “In addition to saving money on rent, the eco-friendly design and construction allows residents to save money on utility bills, which is life changing,” added Scales.
There are programs included at The Crossings on 29th Street to aid residents. Non-profit social service provider Western Community Housing provides wellness services, classes, job assistance, life skills training, youth programs and community-building activities, which Scales feels will boost the quality of life for the residents.
“There is a tremendous boost in self-esteem and pride that one feels when given the opportunity to live in housing that is built to this higher standard of quality,” he says.
