One of the country's most publicized New Urbanist developments is diversifying its housing stock, featuring some of the nation's first apartments to be built using Passive House standards, reports Casey Parks.
In a sure sign that the diminishing costs of building green makes financial sense to developers, a new 57-unit affordable housing development planned for Orenco Station will be built to Passive House standards, reducing heating consumption by 90 percent. REACH Community Development is building the project, with assistance from a $750,000 grant from Washington County.
Using Passive House standards is part of an overall "affordable living" strategy that will make the new homes affordable to individuals making $25,000 a year. According to Parks, "Orenco Station's proximity to light rail and amenities such as a grocery store, coffee shop and restaurants means residents could spend less on transportation. Building to Passive House standards will save residents money in utility bills. REACH expects a 625-square-foot one-bedroom tenant will pay about $25 a month for electricity -- down from about $50 in a less sustainable space."
And the benefits of building to Passive House standards are not just financial. "[T]rends in Europe that show Passive House complexes offer better acoustics and air quality, see less turnover and lower maintenance costs."
FULL STORY: Affordable housing coming to Orenco Station in $13.5 million project
Ten Trends Shaping Affordable Housing
From Passive House design to a broader range of amenities, affordable housing developers are finding new ways to make housing more efficient, comfortable, and flexible for residents.
‘Passive House’ Standard Gaining Ground in Multifamily Housing
Developers in Chicago and around the country are taking notice of a design standard that encourages energy efficiency and sustainable materials.
Looking to the Middle East for Cooling Architecture
Cooling mechanisms built into traditional architecture offer lessons for U.S. builders as heat waves grow more intense.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research