Solara…a Solar Powered Affordable Housing
Nowadays, if you want to sell your project like hot cakes the magic word is "affordability". There is too much inventory in the market that bargain properties get snapped up first.
Among those highly in demand affordable apartment complex is the Solara. It is a new energy-efficient apartment building in the San Diego suburb of Poway. One bedroom apartments were leased out for only $388 a month. Electricity is free because of the solar panels attached to the roof of the apartment complex. The 54 unit complex was leased out in 3 days and the waiting list were cut off at 800.
Some of Solara’s Green Elements were:
1) The units were designed to incorporate natural light.
2) Shaded overhangs
3) Cross ventilation
4) Tankless water heaters
5) Water-saving dual flush toilets
6) Dual-paned windows
7) Heat-reflecting roofs
This is a joint venture project between the government and a private developer. The $16 Million project required $12 Million in government subsidies.
Chris Palmeri of Business Week pointed out:
"The Solara projects illustrates the convergence of two trends, a long time push on the part of governments to get private developers to build low income housing through tax incentives rather than the scary, government-run public housing developments of yore. The other trend, of course, is green building."
I can’t wait to see more similar projects. What others classify as affordable is already a dream home to other people. It is sad to see a family who have pulled all their resources to buy a property they can call their own, only to be dismayed with the poor quality of what they can only afford. This project gives a different spin to "affordable housing"…now affordable doesn’t have to be less appealing!
How about you, do you have any success or horror stories to share about "affordable housing"?
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POSTED IN: Breaking News
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