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Sunflower Gardens LEED Platinum

BSB is proud to announce the completion of Sunflower Gardens in partnership with developer Interim, Inc. The 2nd LEED Platinum Affordable Project in USA and the 1st in California!

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

Sunflower Gardens is a green construction, multifamily, affordable housing
project in Salinas, CA.
Sunflower Gardens provides affordable supportive housing for low-income and
very low-income single adults with psychiatric disabilities.
These adults were previously homeless or are currently at risk of homelessness.
Sunflower Gardens’ Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes
(LEED) Platinum Certification is pending.

LEED FOR HOMES:

Interim’s Sunflower Gardens has been built to the highest standards for energy efficiency. The US Green Building Council sets those standards under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes (LEED for Homes) rating system. LEED ratings evaluate buildings for energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction, and indoor air
quality using a ranking system that sets Platinum certification at the highest level. Sunflower Gardens expects to be the first affordable, supportive housing project in
Monterey County to achieve Platinum LEED for Homes certification (application pending).

Sunflower Gardens expects to tie for first affordable, supportive housing project in
California to achieve Platinum LEED for Homes certification (application pending).
Sunflower Gardens expects to tie for second affordable, supportive housing project
in the United States to achieve Platinum LEED for Homes certification (application
pending).

LEED for Homes Features

  1. Sustainable Sites
    The four buildings are oriented for optimal solar and daylight exposure.
  2. Energy Efficiency
    Sunflower Gardens exceeds California’s strict energy efficiency requirements
    (Title 24) by more than 50 percent.
    Sunflower Gardens achieved all possible points for the “Exceptional Energy
    Performance” for this LEED certification credit.
    Windows, insulation, lighting, appliances and roofing were all selected for their
    energy-efficiency features.
    All light fixtures are fully insulated.
  3. Renewable Energy
    Solar thermal heating will provide the majority of heat and domestic hot water in
    the residential units.
    Photovoltaic (PV) electric panels will provide electricity for the residential units.
    The PV panels produce more than 10KW of electricity; a typical house uses
    3KW.
  4. Water Efficiency
    The water management system is sensitive to the water needs of the Central
    Coast.
    High-efficiency plumbing fixtures were used throughout.

FAST FACTS:

  • Four-building, two-story apartment complex
  • 15 efficiency studio units
  • 2 four-bedroom units
  • 1-Bedroom resident manager unit
  • Affordable, supportive housing for 23 adults with psychiatric disabilities
  • 15 permanent units
  • 2 transitional units
  • Restricted to low and very low-income adults with psychiatric disabilities who are
  • homeless or at-risk of homelessness
  • Self-contained studio apartments (350 sq. feet) bathroom and kitchenette
  • Two four bedroom units (1,300 sq. feet) offer private bedrooms and shared bathrooms, kitchens, and dining areas.
  • Support services building includes staff offices, a community room, kitchen, and an
  • activity room; two patio areas and a garden.

Size of Property: Approximately 2/3 of an acre
Size of Buildings: 13,100 sq. feet
Total Cost of Buildings: $5.784 million

Unique Features

  • Residents, all adults with psychiatric disabilities, were involved in the design.
  • First project in California to be built from the ground up using funding from the

California Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Housing Program (see
http://www.dmh.ca.gov/prop_63/MHSA/default.asp for more information)

  • LEED for Homes Platinum certification
  • Capitalized rent subsidies from California Mental Health Services Act and Monterey

County keep rents affordable for residents

  • Revolving loan fund to stabilize tenants during the first year of residency
  • Community-wide art collective/outreach program, Breakthrough H’Art, which

engages homeless adults with mental illness in the creation of mosaic tile art for
outdoor public spaces

FUNDING PROVIDED BY:

California Department of Housing and Community Development Multifamily Housing Program
Supportive Housing Component
Monterey County Housing and Redevelopment
City of Salinas
Salinas Redevelopment Agency
Monterey County Health Department, Behavioral Health Division
California Mental Health Services Act Housing Program administered by the Housing Finance Agency
(CalHFA) on behalf of the California Department of Mental Health and the County of Monterey
Behavioral Health Division
Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Host of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
The Berkshire Foundation
Community Foundation for Monterey County, The Lauralie and J. Irvine Fund
The Harden Foundation
Wald Ruhnke & Dost Architects
Wells Fargo
Comerica Bank
National Alliance on Mental Illness, Monterey County
The Nunes Company, Inc.
Monterey Peninsula Volunteer Services
Yellow Brick Road Benefit Shop
Anonymous
The UpJohn California Fund
First Presbyterian Church of Monterey
Fenton & Keller
First National Bank of Central California
Monterey County Weekly Community Fund
Private Donations