Remarkable Affordable Housing
Making a positive impact
We team up with our clients to design remarkable, affordable and supportive housing for individuals, families, seniors, formerly homeless and veterans. Our engineers tackle complex issues finding innovative solutions tailored to each project. Whether your next project is a tight infill site with stringent stormwater requirements or is on a hillside with grading and drainage challenges, our project managers know how to design and deliver a project that works. Beyond engineering, it’s all about our client’s success!
We’ve been busy creating innovative solutions for these projects
ROSE HILLS COURTS
The Related Companies/HACLA | Los Angeles
HACLA partnered with Related California to redevelop and expand Rose Hills Courts, a 100-unit public housing project located on a 5.24-acre hillside site, into 185 affordable multifamily units. The redevelopment will occur over two phases and features a community building, management office, Central Park green space with BBQs, outdoor lounge seating, community garden and tot lot. Additional funding was secured for one mile of bikeway paths, sidewalks and eight electric DASH buses for connection to nearby transit plaza. Phase 1 opened January 2024.
Full circle thinking® solution: Site challenges included abandoning public street and utilities running through the middle of the site. The hillside terrain added complexity to grading and required several retaining walls to meet site objectives. Water quality elements included storm water harvesting to aid in dry weather irrigation demands.
FINAMORE PLACE
Jamboree Housing | Anaheim
Finamore Place provides 102 high-quality affordable apartment homes for low-income workforce families and 20 units for special need residents. This community provides onsite supportive services, and additional amenities including a community garden and reflection walk.
Full circle thinking® solution: One key project challenge was to precisely configure all utilities, including sewer, water, and dry utilities, around an existing Metropolitan Water District transmission main that ran through the site. Due to field conditions, the sewer connection required a jack and bore trenchless installation procedure to make the final meticulous connection. In addition, the City’s stringent water quality requirements necessitated development of a robust on-site stormwater storage and infiltration system connected to an off-site reinforced concrete box.
VILLA SERENA
National CORE | San Diego
Villa Serena, a collaborative effort by National CORE, City of San Marcos, and County of San Diego, transforms 1970s apartments into a modern, affordable community. Phase one offers 85 high-quality apartments for low-income individuals and families. Phase two includes an addition 63 units for a total of 148 new apartment homes. Hope through Housing Foundation provides onsite services supporting families and children.
Full circle thinking® solution: To prevent construction delays caused by overhead electrical wires too close to construction scaffolding, a San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGE) work order was expedited. We promptly revised mast arms on electrical poles to meet OSHA proximity requirements. Completed in 1.5 weeks, this solution enabled SDGE to redesign within four months, avoiding vertical construction delays and associated cost increases.
WESTHAVEN
Affirmed Housing | Los Angeles
Westhaven, Affirmed Housing’s new affordable housing development, is a 0.93-acre five-story community providing 57 apartment units with specialized supportive services for formerly unhoused individuals. Westhaven includes a community room, computer room, outdoor space and garden, rooftop terrace, laundry, bike storage and surface parking.
Full circle thinking® solution: In the absence of nearby public storm drains, the team incorporated drywells addressing the site’s storm water management requirements. The dry wells provide percolation sufficient for a 50-year storm event.
