Villas of Hillcrest Becomes First Affordable Housing Project to Win McSam Award

By Anuradha Kher, Online News EditorDallas–The Villas of Hillcrest (pictured first from top), designed by Humphreys & Partners Architects L.P., is the first affordable housing development to win a McSAM Award in the 30-year history of the Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas’ annual competition. The project, located in North Dallas, won the “Best Multifamily Rental Community” category.”Incorporating affordable housing into an established neighborhood is no easy task,” says Jenny Lynn of the Home Builders Association of Greater Dallas. “The Villas of Hillcrest is a prime example of the role that design plays in overcoming the challenges of adding affordable housing to a community.” The Dallas Housing Authority owns the 40-unit Villas of Hillcrest. Humphreys & Partners Architects used a four-plex design with faux garage doors, and building elevations to replicate a single-family neighborhood in a suburban environment. Architect Mark Humphreys explains the design behind this project. “It was important that it fit into the neighborhood. This was a feel-good project with an upscale curb appeal. If a child was dropped off at home by his friend’s mother, his home would look just like his friend’s.”The 40 units average 1,002 square feet and are all subsidized by Section 8.Humphreys also received a McSAM Award for Lake Park Estates’ (pictured second from top) Urban B-2 Plan in Richardson, which was voted as the “Best Architectural Design for Townhomes or Condominiums Under $300,000.” Lake Park Estates is a gated development with 253 for-sale townhomes and lofts, designed and developed by Humphreys. The two- and three-bedroom townhomes and lofts range from 1,425 square feet to 1,984 square feet. Design features include entertainment-style kitchens with islands, fireplaces, balconies, high-efficiency energy-saving HVAC systems and two-car garages.