Decatur Housing Authority and City of Decatur Named “2017 Partner of the Year” by Southface Energy Institute

Photo Caption:

Mary Beth Hemenway of Hemenway, Inc., construction inspector for Trinity Walk, Douglas Faust, Decatur Housing Authority executive director and Don Dressel, Decatur Housing Authority program manager.

The Decatur Housing Authority (DHA, www.decaturhousing.org) and the City of Decatur (www.decaturga.com) were honored Oct. 19 by Southface Energy Institute (www.southface.org) and the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association (www.atlantahomebuilders.com) with the 2017 Partner of the Year Award at the annual EarthCraft Celebration of Excellence event. The award was given in recognition of DHA and the city’s steadfast commitment to a world that is well-built for well-being and a continued support of the EarthCraft program, according to Southface.

“We are honored to have our work recognized with this prestigious award,” said Douglas Faust, DHA executive director. “We believe in creating transformational communities that go far beyond bricks and mortar. In addition to incorporating energy efficient design, appliances and materials into the communities we build and manage, we look for ways to enhance the lifestyles of our residents through community gardening programs, play areas for the children, academic resources for students and mentoring programs.”

DHA and the City of Decatur recently worked in partnership to develop Trinity Walk, a beautiful and innovative affordable housing community in the heart of downtown Decatur. Phase I and II of the redevelopment of the former Gateway Manor and Oakview apartments at 421 West Trinity Place officially opened Oct. 5, 2017 with full occupancy. The complex includes 121 one, two and three-bedroom energy-efficient apartment flats and townhomes in six contemporary, three-story buildings. Thirty-two of the apartments were created for the elderly and/or disabled, while the remaining 89 units were designed for families. An earlier DHA development project within the City of Decatur, Oliver House, was named EarthCraft Multifamily 2012 Project of the Year by Southface and the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association. Oliver House is an 80-unit senior housing community located at 1450 Commerce Drive.

The Trinity Walk apartments were constructed to EarthCraft green building specifications and will receive EarthCraft Multifamily and EarthCraft Communities certifications. Low to mid-rise buildings that qualify must meet a number of sustainability standards, including environmental performance, indoor air quality, building durability, comfort and affordability. The community was designed with a central Greenway featuring community gardens, seating and gathering areas and a “tot lot”. A customized stormwater detention system includes enhanced bioswales which naturally filter the water and return it to the soil, three bioretention areas and an 8,000-gallon stormwater cistern which captures roof runoff for irrigation reuse. In addition, DHA worked with the City of Decatur to obtain capacity in the city’s new regional stormwater retention facility. A landscaped stream buffer has been created to protect adjacent Peavine Creek and provide outdoor amenities for the Trinity Walk residents. Plantings and trees within the buffer and throughout the development enhance Trinity Walk’s viability and aesthetics.

In addition to the City of Decatur and Trinity Walk residents, DHA’s partners for the redevelopment included City Schools of Decatur, MARTA, Hudson Housing Capital, Sugar Creek Capital, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch and HUD. The architect for Trinity Walk was Lord Aeck Sargent and Kimley-Horn was the landscape architect and project engineer. Bradley Construction served as general contractor.