Main Street Village Apartments exemplifies sustainability by tra…
Main Street Village Apartments exemplifies sustainability by transforming a vacant lot into a densely planned mixed-use and transit-oriented development.
Frank Domin
An underground parking garage maximizes above-ground open space.
Frank Domin
The building siting takes advantage of the southern exposure of …
The building siting takes advantage of the southern exposure of the Main Street frontage with plenty of windows and balconies.
Craig Cozart
Site circulation was planned to allow emergency vehicle access b…
Site circulation was planned to allow emergency vehicle access but to keep cars from driving through the site, which gives residents maximum use of the outdoor area between the two buildings.
Craig Cozart
A PV system provides electricity for the common areas.
Adrian Schulz
A high-efficiency irrigation system with a weather-based control…
A high-efficiency irrigation system with a weather-based controller is used for the drought-tolerant landscaping.
Craig Cozart
The playground includes a play structure and rubberized play til…
The playground includes a play structure and rubberized play tiles with recycled content.
This Bay Area transit-oriented development received high marks from the jury for its energy efficiency, design, and for the low-income population it serves—including those who have been homeless or have faced mental health challenges. Main Street Village’s proximity to transit led the city to approve a parking reduction; 53 of 59 on-site parking spaces are underground, reducing the heat island effect and allowing more space on the site to be devoted to landscaping and outdoor areas for the residents.
Siting takes advantage of the southern exposure with plentiful windows and balconies, shaded to provide maximum solar gain in the winter and minimize solar gain in the summer. Heating in each of the 64 units is provided by a highly efficient on-demand boiler for both domestic hot water and radiant heat in the units. In addition, a 73.3-kW PV system on one building and a 33.6-kW system on the other provide electricity for the common areas, and a solar water pre-heat system provides hot water for a common laundry room.
Christine Serlin is an editor for Affordable Housing Finance, Multifamily Executive, and Builder. She has covered the affordable housing industry since 2001. Before that, she worked at several daily newspapers, including the Contra Costa Times and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Connect with Christine at cserlin@zondahome.com
or follow her on Twitter @ChristineSerlin.
