Project Description
From the AIA:
This project provides affordable workforce housing for low-income workers and families who previously lived in dilapidated, substandard housing in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Consisting of nine buildings located on five scattered sites (named Chipmunk, Deer, Fox, Trout, and Brook), Kings Beach Housing Now provides 77 LEED Silver apartments that reduce negative impacts on the environment, reuse infill land, and preserve Tahoe’s beautiful open spaces.
To better understand the demand for affordable housing, the development team formed partnerships with community advocates and nonprofits to sponsor a housing needs assessment. Data from more than 300 surveys, conducted in both English and Spanish, were gathered and analyzed. During the planning and design phases, the team held more than 30 bilingual community meetings to develop housing strategies and gain insights into the needs of the workforce and business owners. To meet those needs, the developer led efforts to rewrite and modernize land use and zoning codes for two governing agencies. As a result, the project received 100% density bonuses and drastically reduced parking requirements.
Today, the project’s buildings are the tallest and highest density buildings in the Tahoe Basin. People are able to live near their jobs and amenities, reducing vehicular dependence in this region of heightened environmental sensitivity. In addition, an advanced biofiltration system naturally filters 100% of on-site storm water, which prevents sediments and pollutants from negatively impacting the lake. The developer has also implemented a number of area-wide infrastructure improvements.