Description:
Community Preservation Partners (CPP), a mission-driven affordable housing preservation developer, acquired the 1973-built Windsor Court property and rehabilitated the affordable housing development designed for families. The property consists of 6 three-story buildings, totaling 143 units. CPP’s goal was to provide sustainable housing and equal opportunities for low-income families in Aurora at a fraction of the price of market-rate housing.
This project was awarded the 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) by the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) based on the significant energy-sustainability commitments in the scope of work and benefited from a tax abatement through a strategic partnership with The Housing Authority of the City of Aurora. CPP’s total investment was approximately $54.3 million, and a total investment in renovations of $75,000 per unit.
In order to satisfy the requirements of the tax credit, the client engaged Partner Energy to provide Enterprise Green Communities (EGC) consulting services and guide the project team in complying with the 8 categories under EGC: Integrative Design, Location + Neighborhood fabric, Site improvements, Water Efficiency, Operating Energy, Healthy Living Environment, and Operations, Maintenance and Resident engagement.
Enterprise Green Communities is the only national green building framework developed for the affordable housing sector that helps promote healthy, efficient, and environmentally responsible homes. The WELL Building Standard (WELL) is the premier framework for advancing health and well-being in buildings and communities. Enterprise Green Communities has leveraged the best of both programs and created one path for affordable housing developments. Projects that achieve certification with the 2020 Criteria are recognized as certified under both Enterprise Green Communities and WELL.
Partner Energy closely monitored the green certification process through the renovation stages and reviewed products prior to installation on site, performed site verifications to verify compliance, and provided commissioning services to ensure CHFA Tax Credit and EGC commitments were achieved by the project team.
The renovation at Windsor Court modernized apartment interiors with the installation of new CARB II-certified kitchen cabinets, FloorScore-certified flooring products, low-flow WaterSense plumbing fixtures, LED lighting, low-VOC paints and sealants, ENERGY STAR-rated appliances, high-efficiency packaged terminal air conditioners (PTACs), and mini split heat pumps. Major upgrades included full replacement of windows, waterproofing, siding, and central domestic hot water heaters in all buildings. During the renovation, tenants were temporarily relocated for a period of two weeks as the units were turned over in phases.
To further enhance the quality of life on the property, the parking lot was redone, the outdoor play area was renovated with green space and bike racks for the residents, broadband internet access was provided in all units and amenity spaces, no smoking policies were implemented, and on-site social service classes were provided to assist residents with financial literacy, job search assistance, English language courses, and tutoring.
Through the initial feasibility scope and research, Partner Energy was able to provide savings for the client after discovering that HERS testing and energy modeling were not needed for EGC green certification compliance. The client was able to follow an alternate pathway through Energy Outreach Colorado and installed 2 major measures following the prescriptive pathway. Partner coordinated with Energy Outreach Colorado and the general contractor to identify the 2 major scopes to ensure the products met requirements.
Due to Partner Energy’s thorough consulting services, the client was able to receive the 4% tax credit for the project. Windsor Court earned the 2020 Enterprise Green Communities (EGC) certification and WELL certification.
In addition to this project, Partner works with CPP on nationwide low-income housing projects and provides a whole array of services such as property condition assessments, environmental analysis, radon analysis, asbestos and lead surveys, energy audits, sustainability consulting, green certification, low-income housing tax credit consulting, commissioning, and benchmarking.
