National Demonstration Sites
Armory Park del Sol -- Tucson, Arizona
Designed to create a sustainable community in the historic Armory Park portion of inner city Tucson, Armory Park del Sol was selected as one of the first PATH national demonstration projects. When builder John Wesley Miller has completed the development it will consist of 99 single-family homes affordably priced from $80,000 equipped with cutting edge solar technologies to provide electricity, hot water and heating. Precast concrete will be used to provide durable, energy efficient and cost effective walls to frame the homes. Additionally it uses sustainable high-density urban infill development techniques in an effort to preserve open spaces. It will feature extensive walkways to encourage pedestrian traffic, reducing the negative effect of vehicle emissions on the environment. The use of water saving technologies and native vegetation in landscaping will reduce water consumption by approximately 65 percent compared to typical homes. Tucson Mayor George Miller and the city council heartily endorse Third Avenue because it meets many of the goals they established to encourage a more livable Tucson inner city.
Blair Ranch Commons -- Carbondale, Colorado
The Carbondale Affordable Housing Corporation (CAHC), in the Valley area near Aspen, aims to provide resort-area employees with affordable housing close to jobs. The chosen site will hold 99 flats and duplexes arranged in townhouses clustered around open space, and will include a daycare center for 30 to 40 children. Now assisting in design development, PATH is involved in all stages of the project from preliminary design to energy testing. CAHC has enlisted 10 businesses and schools to sponsor the project, which will also address the area's shortage of skilled labor. This demonstration project provides an excellent opportunity to apply technologies addressing cool-climate energy efficiency in modular multiple dwellings. Given the area's commitment to sustainable growth, and the developer's willingness, there are expected to be many opportunities for PATH technologies to advance the environmental performance and energy efficiency of the development, meeting the goal to raise the awareness of local builders and developers to these issues. The Carbondale demonstration is likely to be seen as a model for other communities for multi-employer sponsored housing. It is anticipated that the developer will apply for Energy Star certification and HUD mortgage financing.
Churchill Homes -- Holyoke, Massachusetts
With financial assistance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, PATH has joined forces with the Holyoke (Massachusetts) Housing Authority to develop a mixed income community of energy- and resource-efficient townhouses and flats. The newly announced demonstration project is known as Churchill Homes, and is being produced under HUD's HOPE VI program. The project is currently proceeding through the preliminary, schematic design stages of development, and incorporates a range of PATH building systems and technologies. Demolition of existing structures, which include over 200 World War II era public housing units that have fallen into disrepair, is slated to begin shortly. In their place, a stable mixed-income community will take shape, consisting of 272 affordable, value-engineered homes. Of these, it's anticipated that approximately two-thirds will be owner occupied with the remainder designated as rental units. Some units will be constructed off site in order to decrease population densities and allow for the inclusion of common areas. Phase I is scheduled for completion by the summer of 2000, and will include 50 rentals and 60 owner-occupied units, a park, and a community center.
The Vistas at Independence Park -- Dallas, Texas
Independence Park is an urban infill project on the outskirts Dallas subsidized through the local housing authority for low-income families. The builder, Carl Franklin Homes, currently uses Geothermal Heat Pumps to provide energy efficient heating and cooling as well as Structural Insulated Panels which provide energy efficient, air-tight homes and can be installed without the use of framing members. He is very interested in testing new ventilation/humidity control systems to determine their effectiveness in increasing energy efficiency and improving comfort as well as the usefulness of greywater irrigation systems to preserve the integrity of the foundation from the effects of the expansive soil in the Dallas area.
Strivers Plaza -- New York City, New York
Strivers Plaza is a half block project in the middle of Harlem [Frederick Douglass Boulevard (8th Avenue) between 134th and 135th Street], sponsored by the NYC Partnership's Community Partnership Development Corporation. Strivers Plaza is comprised of: a 14 story apartment building planned at approximately 150 units; 20 to 30 units of two to four story duplex units; 30,000 square feet of ground floor commercial space; 30,000 feet of ground floor parking; and a center courtyard area for residents of the complex. The developer is Sante Fe Construction, Inc., and the architect of record is Max Bond of Davis Brody Bond; construction is slated to start in September 1999. This a $45 million project that will have significant HUD funding. In support of this project, PATH has selected Steven Winter Associates (SWA) of Norwalk, Ct., to provide technical assistance through: Computational energy use analysis; PATH Technologies selection and implementation assessment; PATH Technology cost/benefit analysis; Logistical support to developer and designer in preparation of drawings, specifications, and product selections; analysis of code compliance barriers to PATH technologies, and support to overcome them; and documentation of benefits to the project and community. The project has also received the assistance of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) for technical support in the commercial space through NYSERDA's Flex-Tech program; it is believed that other NYSERDA monies may be available through utility System Benefits Charges (SBC) to write down the cost of some electricity conservation measures such as lighting, motors, appliances, and possibly to fund the incremental cost of higher performance envelope measures.
Takoma Village -- Washington, DC
Takoma Village, located in northwest Washington, DC, consists of 22 townhouse-style buildings which will be divided into 43 one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. The project is set to break ground later this summer. Design development and material selection efforts are currently underway, with a strong focus on incorporating a mix of PATH's energy efficient, green, and cost-effective building materials and systems. Preliminary investigations have identified geothermal heating and cooling (a system that relies on the relatively constant temperature of the earth below the frostline), low-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints and finishes, and optimum value engineering (OVE), which seeks to reduce materials usage without compromising strength and durability. Other technologies being considered for inclusion are orientation-specific glazing, solar domestic hot water systems, permeable pavement, renewable framing materials (engineered wood, steel, etc.), and building-integrated photovoltaics. Energy analyses will be performed to ensure that insulation levels and glazing are optimized. Post-construction diagnostic testing (such as Blower Door and Duct Blaster) will be performed to qualify the project under EPA's Energy Star Homes program, as well as to access energy efficiency financing.
Washington Square -- La Plata, Maryland
Washington Square in La Plata, Maryland is an owner-occupied senior housing development of 80 one and one half story townhouse and duplex units, some of which will be of accessible design. The builder, Bruce Davis, Inc., will use insulated concrete forms (ICF) because the project presents a unique opportunity to document the learning curve associated with ICF construction and gauge the effect of cost saving techniques and technologies. The builder is very interested in testing a new ventilation system and duct practices to increase energy efficiency and improve comfort as well as the use of tubular skylights to increase natural light in the interior of the units. On-demand hot water heaters offer advantages of cost efficiency and require little space. In addition to being a PATH Demonstration Project the first unit will be a Portland Cement Association model home and the entire project is enrolled in the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative ENERGY STAR program.
