Decatur Housing Authority's Allen Wilson Community Named EarthCraft Community of the Year

Allen Wilson Community, the Decatur Housing Authority’s $28.3 million redevelopment of the former Allen Wilson Terrace Public Housing project in Decatur, Ga., has been named 2014 EarthCraft Community of the Year by Southface and the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association (GAHBA).

The award was presented to to Doug Faust, executive director of the Decatur Housing Authority (DHA), by David Ellis, executive vice president of GAHBA, and Scott Lee, director of residential green building services at Southface, at the recent EarthCraft Celebration of Excellence.

EarthCraft, the Southeast’s premier green building certification program, which promotes energy efficient, healthy, comfortable and durable new construction and renovation, recognized the Decatur Housing Authority for its leadership and excellence in green building design and construction for Allen Wilson Community. The three-phase redevelopment at 1450 Commerce Drive in the heart of Decatur, includes 191 units of high-quality, environmentally friendly housing for low-income families and seniors, along with onsite amenities such as an equipped playground, a community garden, laundry facility and half-mile landscaped walking trail.

“The Decatur Housing Authority and our Board of Commissioners are honored to receive this recognition for our efforts to develop quality affordable housing along with our partners, especially the City of Decatur,” said Faust. “We developed this community to meet the current and future needs of our residents while responding positively to the surrounding neighborhood. The community’s energy efficiency achieved through DHA’s commitment to meet or exceed the EarthCraft Multifamily and Communities standards will improve the quality of lives of our residents for years to come through energy cost savings and reduced environmental impact.”

The former Allen Wilson Terrace was built in 1941. Despite its age and worsening condition, the complex enjoyed an exceptional location with immediate access to public transportation and proximity to schools, employment opportunities, churches, retail, dining, parks, and medical, recreation and cultural facilities. The DHA elected to redevelop the property in three phases spanning five years, to reduce the disruption to residents as much as possible and to include a state-of-the-art apartment building (Oliver House) to serve the growing senior population.

All 191 affordable units in Allen Wilson include the following energy-efficient features, among others:

• 1.28 gallon-per-flush toilets
• Low-flow showerheads and faucets
• High-efficiency Energy Star appliances
• High-efficiency HVAC in each unit
• Spray foam insulation in all walls and attic spaces
• Huber Zip weather-resistant barrier on all existing walls
• Low-VOC paints and carpets
• Formaldehyde-free kitchen and bath cabinetry
• Landscaped greenspaces throughout the complex
• Ongoing green practices for future management and maintenance of units

“The Allen Wilson Master Plan successfully integrates quality affordable housing into a thriving downtown area that has seen tremendous growth in recent years,” said Faust. “The architectural style of the new construction blends in with the surrounding structures and the community brings an income mix to downtown Decatur. The open, green campus-like setting enhances the aesthetic of the city center, and the numerous energy-efficient features of Allen Wilson Community serve as an example of what can and should be done to protect the environment and enhance the quality of life for residents.”

The DHA worked in conjunction with numerous partners on the redevelopment of Allen Wilson, including: Allen Wilson residents, City of Decatur, Hudson Housing Partners, Sugar Creek Realty, Peachtree Investments, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Georgia Department of Community Affairs, NorSouth Constructs, Catamount Constructors, HADP Architecture Inc., Aiken Housing, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Don Dressel Development Consulting, Hemenway Construction, Kiley-Horn and Associates Inc., Southface Energy Institute, McCurdy & Candler LLC, and Arnall Golden Gregory LLP.

About the Decatur Housing Authority
The Decatur Housing Authority (DHA) has served the needs of the residents of the City of Decatur since its creation in 1938. In addition to its role in developing, owning and managing public housing, DHA has made a significant impact on the economic growth and well-being of this small city, not only by providing much-needed workforce and affordable housing for over 1,600 families in the greater Decatur area, but also by working to provide families with the necessary tools to build better lives through self-sufficiency. www.decaturhousing.org

About EarthCraft
EarthCraft is a green building certification program designed to address climate, energy and water issues unique to the southeastern United States. The program serves as a blueprint for energy and resource efficient single-family homes, multifamily structures, renovation projects, community developments, light commercial buildings and sustainable preservation projects. The EarthCraft program is sponsored by: Bosch, The Home Depot, WaterFurnace, Huber ZIP System, Panasonic, Fi-Foil and Owens Corning. www.earthcraft.org