New Workforce Housing is Uniquely Green

By Andie Lowenstein, Associate Editor

Mountain View, Calif.—The City of Mountain View celebrated the opening of a new affordable community.

ROEM Corporation and Eden Housing in partnership with the city of Mountain View presented Studio 819, offering 49 studio workforce housing apartments, including one manager’s unit, for residents with annual incomes at or below 45 percent of the Santa Clara County Area Median Income. The community delivers an environmentally-responsible and amenity-rich community for its residents with quality onsite management and supportive services provided by Eden Housing. The contemporary architectural style chosen for Studio 819 pays tribute to Mountain View’s modern and Craftsman heritage.

“We are proud to celebrate the grand opening of Studio 819 in Mountain View during Affordable Housing Week,” said Mayor John McAlister. “In partnering with ROEM and Eden, we have taken another big step toward our goal to improve the quantity, diversity and affordability of housing in our community.”

This development transformed the site into a new, modern community of workforce housing. Studio 819 consists of a three-story building with 41 parking spaces on a surface parking lot and 49 bicycle parking spaces. Amenities include a community room with a kitchen, a computer room, laundry facilities, free wireless Internet, a ground-floor courtyard with a BBQ, and a third-floor roof deck. The property also includes nearly 1,640 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor. ROEM and Eden are currently negotiating with a popular local restaurant for leasing.

“Studio 819 provides new homes for people who would otherwise not be able to afford to live in Mountain View,” said Linda Mandolini, president of Eden Housing. “We are happy to partner with the City and its commitment to making room in its community for new neighbors. Eden is pleased to be a partner in the development of Studio 819 and to contribute our experience in its onsite management and resident services.”

The $18 million development was constructed with sustainable building methods and includes numerous green features to ensure its long-term energy-efficiency and sustainability. Studio 819 is pursuing USGBC’s LEED-H Platinum certification, which is commonly known as the toughest industry standard for sustainable building design. The project will comply with CALGreen Building Codes as well.

“Studio 819 is a transformational development, bringing much needed workforce housing to our area residents,” said Robert Emami, CEO & president of ROEM Development Corporation. “ROEM’s intent for Studio 819 was to develop a community that is forward thinking in its design, sustainable in its construction, and offers access to high-quality living for our working residents. By combining ROEM’s experience and a strong partnership with Eden and the City of Mountain View, Studio 819 achieves these goals.”

In order to construct Studio 819 as a sustainable community, high-energy efficiency features were incorporated into the project design from the conceptual stages, noted Keith Labus, AIA, LEED AP and Principal with national architecture and planning firm KTGY Group, Inc.

“To achieve this, Studio 819 is designed to exceed Title-24 standard by 22.2 percent by incorporating features that optimize the building’s energy performance including: efficient HVAC systems for common spaces and residential units; 100 percent fluorescent lighting; Energy Star appliances; insulated windows and Low-E coating; and an extensive solar photovoltaic system that offsets the building common area energy load,” Labus said.

A water-efficient irrigation system, which meets the City of Mountain View’s water conservation goals, was implemented to ensure Studio 819 uses water as thoroughly as possible. The property also includes water-efficient landscaping with drought tolerant planting and a naturally filtrating storm water runoff system, using bio-swales for storm water treatment, quality and retention. On the interior of the project, Studio 819 uses low-flow plumbing fixtures to ensure a more responsible use of household water.

In addition, Studio 819 emphasized the integration of environmentally-preferable products by using locally-sourced materials and recycled materials, including recycled content carpet and/or natural flooring/linoleum. The project was also built to deter at least 75 percent of construction waste from landfills by recycling used materials such as wood, metal, drywall, and concrete.

Studio 819 is financed with nine percent Low-Income Housing Tax Credits with financial support from the City of Mountain View, Wells Fargo Community Lending & Investment and the California Community Reinvestment Corporation. The project architect is KTGY Group, Inc. and the general contractor ROEM Builders, Inc.