Garfield Park Village
Completed
Preserving existing affordable housing is a sustainable and critical component of solving the housing crisis; it prevents displacement, and is more-often-than-not, cheaper than building new. Garfield Park is a campus of 12 cottage-style, 2-story buildings constructed in Santa Cruz in 1964. With our client, Christian Church Homes, our team took on the task of renovating the campus. The renovation meant preserving the 94 “at-risk” apartments for long-term affordability for low-income seniors.
Project Details
LOCATION
Santa Cruz, CA
CLIENT
Christian Church Homes
UNITS
94 Units
COMPLETION DATE
2016
CONTRACTOR
Branagh Inc.
Making universal design and “aging-in-place” a priority.
Our team conducted interviews of staff and residents to learn what was working and what wasn’t about the site and units. In partnership with our consultants, we conducted a thorough analysis of existing site and building conditions. Design features include: a resident gardening space, a beautifully landscaped courtyard, and a community room for regularly scheduled activities. The location in Santa Cruz is just a few blocks to the beach, shopping, and public transportation.
A primary project goal defined by our outreach and interviews was incorporating universal design standards to ensure residents’ abilities to age-in-place. Inherent to the walk-up design of the cottage style was accessibility. Our team worked to incorporate ADA standards throughout dwellings and the landscape. Interior upgrades included bathrooms, appliances, windows, cabinets, carpeting, lighting and heating, ventilating and air conditioning. Exterior upgrades included windows, vibrant paint colors, garden boxes, and landscaping. Green and energy-efficient materials, sustainable techniques, and systems were specified throughout the project. Residents' front doors make space for personalization and placemaking - each front door becoming a means to combat social isolation.