KTGY-designed Homes for Habitat for Humanity of Orange County Celebrate Opening

IRVINE, CALIF. - Award-winning KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, is pleased to announce the completion of its design of three single-family homes for Habitat for Humanity of Orange County at Yorba Linda Avenue and Park Avenue in Yorba Linda, Calif. Habitat for Humanity will unveil the three new homes at 4965 Park Avenue on Saturday, November 21, 2009. Registration and refreshments start at 9:30 a.m. and the program begins at 10:00 a.m. This is Habitat for Humanity of Orange County's first homes built in Yorba Linda.

One affordable Habitat home will be dedicated in a traditional Habitat ceremony. The keys to this home will be presented to the family who built the home and who will now purchase this home under the regular Habitat model. This will be Habitat's 135th home in Orange County. Two homes will be sold to moderate-income families who will secure their own financing under Habitat for Humanity of Orange County's new "Mixed-Income Model." Habitat's "Mixed-Income Model," which includes homes for low-income and moderate-income families within the same development, will provide more workforce housing for families in Orange County.

KTGY donated its architectural services as well as assisted in the construction of these craftsman-style homes in Yorba Linda on "Build Day." Earlier in the year, in recognition of KTGY's considerable contributions to Habitat for Humanity, KTGY was awarded Habitat for Humanity's 2009 Dream Builder Award at the organization's Fifth Annual "Doorways to the Future" gala awards dinner and auction. Habitat for Humanity of Orange County is dedicated to ending substandard housing and building strong communities in Orange County and the Dream Builder Award recognizes those companies that have made a substantial donation of time and resources to Habitat for Humanity of Orange County.

"Many thanks to Jill Williams, Tien Shen and their entire team from KTGY for designing such beautiful homes," said Mark Korando, senior vice president, Habitat for Humanity of Orange County. "We look forward to working with KTGY in the future to create more attractive, affordable homes for hard-working families in Orange County."

KTGY has been committed to working with Habitat for Humanity throughout northern and southern California. Recently, KTGY was called upon to develop the next series of homes for Habitat for Humanity in northern California, which will be going after LEED Platinum status. Last year, KTGY designed and assisted with the building of Habitat for Humanity of Orange County's four homes in Anaheim on East Julianna Street.

KTGY's team of experienced single-family architects are able to make the best use of all the available square footage on a small infill site to create attractive, very livable and comfortable homes that are in harmony with the neighborhood. "The land plan is as important as the exterior design," says Yorba Linda's project designer Jill Williams, AIA and principal with KTGY. "Also, it is important that the homes are not only of a high quality, but also take advantage of a certain simplicity in framing since Habitat for Humanity uses a volunteer workforce."

Williams adds, "These three homes in Yorba Linda carry on the beautiful, historic precedent of this great neighborhood with sitting porches, two-car garages turned to the rear and accessed from a private drive, and a material palette that is reminiscent of the era with shingles and clapboard siding."

As part of Habitat for Humanity of Orange County's "mixed-income model," two of the three-bedroom homes will house a family earning up to 120 percent of the area median income ($100,900 for a family of four) and one for a family earning 50 percent of the area median income ($46,500 for a family of four). Habitat families are required to provide 500 hours of "sweat equity" to help build their own home, assist another Habitat family build a home, or work in some other part of the Habitat organization.

"It is exciting to help end substandard housing and provide hardworking families with an opportunity to share in the American Dream of homeownership," William adds. KTGY has considerable experience designing market rate housing as well as affordable and workforce housing working with leading non-profit housing developers like Jamboree Housing, BRIDGE Housing and South County Housing Corporation. Earlier this year, KTGY celebrated the grand opening of Jamboree Housing Corporation’s Diamond Apartment Homes in Anaheim, a pioneering green multifamily development that provides both housing and mental health supportive services for previously homeless individuals and their families in Orange County. In addition to Diamond Apartment Homes, KTGY has designed and completed several other affordable apartment communities for Jamboree Housing including Monarch Pointe Apartment Homes in Anaheim, Ceres Court Apartment Homes in Fontana, and Granite Court in Irvine.

"What a great way to participate in building communities of hope, dignity and self-worth through the construction of quality, affordable housing," says Tricia Esser, KTGY's CEO. "Today, corporate social responsibility goes far beyond the old philanthropy of the past - donating money to good causes at the end of the financial year - and is instead an all year round responsibility that companies must accept for the environment around them, for the best working practices, and for their engagement with the local and world communities. We at KTGY are sincerely dedicated to making a difference in the communities where we work, live, play and design."

KTGY is also an active supporter of HomeAid, the charitable arm of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Currently, KTGY has a project under construction in northern California for the developmentally disabled. This project, located in Hayward, is a joint venture between HomeAid of Northern California and Emerald Glen Homes in the site development and construction of five six-bedroom homes. Emerald Glen is a not-for-profit organization committed to providing quality homes and special support to the adult and aging developmentally disabled population of Alameda County and Hayward.

About Habitat for Humanity of Orange County
Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, headquartered in Santa Ana, CA, is dedicated to ending substandard housing and building strong communities in Orange County. Habitat uses non-government donations of funding, materials, professional services and volunteer labor to build simple, decent homes which are sold to qualified low-income families for a 1% down payment, closing costs, and a zero-interest mortgage. Mortgage payments are recycled to build more Habitat homes. Habitat families contribute 500 hours of "sweat equity" to the program by building their own home, helping another Habitat family build a home, or working in some other area of the Habitat organization. Habitat for Humanity families and volunteers have built 134 homes in Orange County since 1988, and are currently building five homes in San Juan Capistrano, three homes in Yorba Linda, two homes in Fullerton and two homes in Westminster. For more information, see www.habitatoc.org.

About KTGY Group, Inc.
Established in 1991, KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, provides comprehensive planning and award-winning architectural design services for residential communities, retail, hospitality, mixed-use and related specialty developments. KTGY delivers innovative solutions that reflect clear understanding of development, marketing and financial performance and takes particular pride in its highly motivated and principal led studios. Serving clients worldwide, KTGY maintains offices in Irvine, Oakland, Santa Monica, and in Denver. See www.ktgy.com.

Hanley Investment (HI) Urban Retail Advisors Sells High-Profile Street-Front Retail in Downtown San Pedro
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Ground-Floor Retail Component of 116-Unit Loft Building Sells to International Longshore & Warehouse Union Local 13 as Owner/User

IRVINE, CALIF. - Hanley Investment (HI) Urban Retail Advisors, a division of Hanley Investment Group Real Estate Advisors specializing in the sale and advisory of high profile mixed-use and urban retail properties in dynamic commercial districts across the United States, announced today that Carlos J. Lopez, president of HI Urban Retail Advisors, represented the seller in the sale of an 18,864-square-foot ground-floor retail component of a 116-unit residential condominium building in downtown San Pedro, Calif. The price could not be disclosed.

The project, referred to as the Centre Street Lofts, is located at 285 W. 6th Street in San Pedro. Positioned within downtown San Pedro along Centre Street between 6th Street and 7th Street, the five-story building was built in 2007 and features underground parking to serve both commercial and residential uses. Nearly all of the 116 residential condominiums have been successfully sold. The ground-floor retail portion of the project was 18 percent occupied at the time of sale allowing the buyer, International Longshore & Warehouse Union Local 13, to acquire the project in order to occupy the building as their corporate headquarters.

"The transaction represents some growing trends specific to today's marketplace in regard to the sale of retail/commercial portions of mixed-use developments," says Carlos J. Lopez, president of HI Urban Retail Advisors. "Developers of these types of projects are now seeking further profits in addition to residential condominium sales, or in some cases the sales proceeds are being used to pay down debt obligations depending on the overall development's success."

Lopez continues, "Although the Centre Street Lofts has nearly sold all of the 116 residential units at the project, other mixed-use developments in the marketplace have been severely impacted by a decrease in sales proceeds from residential condominium sales. Some developers that originally had intended to maintain ownership of the retail/commercial portion of the development are now taking a closer look at selling this component," Lopez notes.

"Private banking sources and a favorable SBA financing market has enabled business owners this year the ability to acquire these types of owner/user opportunities that traditionally they might have been unable to purchase in the past," adds Lopez. "Slower absorption in the leasing of ground floor commercial/retail space and a continued downward pressure on values of commercial real estate in general have also been significant reasons why we are seeing more owner/user type purchases."

The buyer, International Longshore & Warehouse Union Local 13, was represented by Joel Mostert of The Heger Company in Los Angeles, CA. The seller was Centre Street Lofts, LLC from Hollywood, CA.

HI Urban Retail Advisors has recently successfully sold other high-profile mixed-use and urban retail properties in several well-located commercial districts including: West Los Angeles, Downtown Scottsdale and Downtown Long Beach.

About HI Urban Retail Advisors
HI Urban Retail Advisors is a retail investment division of Hanley Investment Group Real Estate Advisors specializing in the sale and advisory of high profile mixed-use and urban retail properties in dynamic commercial districts across the United States. Built on unsurpassed dedication and an impressive track record of performance and results, HI Urban Retail Advisors consistently exceeds client expectations through its unparalleled, comprehensive knowledge of urban retail from a national and global perspective.

Whether it is situated in a well-located, dynamic commercial district, or in conjunction with a mixed-use project, urban retail is a very specific product type within the overall retail marketplace. HI Urban Retail Advisors guides clients in attaining the highest returns through its exceptional experience and responsive team that thoroughly comprehends this unique and growing market segment. HI Urban Retail Advisors utilizes its innovative expertise to lead property owners through complex issues relating to land use and the progressive revitalization of high density urban areas to effectively help clients understand the significant characteristics of each urban retail asset and its optimum positioning and value.

HI Urban Retail Advisors works closely with investors to develop and maintain long-term relationships and has successfully accumulated a highly targeted database of mixed-use and urban retail property investors and owners from every major urban market in the country that is unmatched in the industry. HI Urban Retail Advisors' concentrated expertise and exclusive focus on mixed-use and urban retail properties translate into measurable results and is the reason that clients rely on HI Urban Retail Advisors to be the most dependable source for valuation services, market information and urban retail investment sales. For more information, visit the Company's website at www.hiurbanretail.com or call (949) 585-7610.

About Hanley Investment Group Real Estate Advisors
Built on a solid foundation of performance, integrity and dedication, Hanley Investment Group Real Estate Advisors is a boutique retail investment advisory firm with a two billion dollar transaction track record that is comprised of innovative specialists delivering unparalleled service and superior results that consistently exceed client expectations. Hanley Investment Group's expertise, commitment and unwavering focus of putting the client's needs first have continued to set the company apart in the industry. Hanley Investment Group works closely with individual investors, developers, and institutional property owners in every facet of the transaction to insure that the highest value is achieved. Clients rely on Hanley Investment Group to be the most knowledgeable and trusted source for valuation services, market information and retail property acquisitions and dispositions. For more information, visit the Company's website at www.hanleyinvestment.com or call (949) 585-7610.

Thompson Dorfman Partners Development Wins ULI Workforce Housing Award
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KTGY is the Designer of Award-Winning Casa del Maestro

OAKLAND, CALIF. – The Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Terwilliger Center for Workforce Housing has named Casa del Maestro in Santa Clara, Calif., as a recipient of the 2009 Jack Kemp Workforce Housing Models of Excellence Award. The award, which is named after former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and U.S. Representative Jack Kemp who died in May 2009, was presented to Casa del Maestro’s developer Thompson Dorfman Partners, LLC of Mill Valley, Calif. by former HUD Secretaries Steve Preston and Henry Cisneros at the recent ULI Fall Meeting in San Francisco, Calif. Casa del Maestro was honored for its quality design, innovative financing structure, strong public/private partnership, and ability to be replicated in other areas of the country with high housing costs. Casa del Maestro was designed by KTGY Group in Oakland, Calif.

Thompson Dorfman Partners is an award-winning developer best known for its luxury residential development. The 10-year-old firm has developed more than $1.7 billion in projects throughout California. Earlier this year, Thompson Dorfman completed 555YVR, Downtown Walnut Creek’s first transit-oriented luxury residential community oriented towards young professionals. 555YVR is a stylish, amenity-rich, green development located within walking distance to BART and Downtown’s shopping and entertainment district. KTGY served as the project architect for 555YVR.

“This is a great way for Thompson Dorfman Partners to give back to the areas in which we develop,” said Bruce Dorfman, co-founder of Thompson Dorfman. “Providing high quality, affordable housing for teachers benefits the entire community.” Thompson Dorfman formed a non-profit affiliate, Education Housing Partners (EHP) to assist public agencies and school districts in providing affordable, high quality workforce housing in order to recruit and retain staff in areas with prohibitively high housing costs.

Located in one of the nation’s most expensive housing markets, Casa del Maestro (Spanish for “house of the teacher”) was the first teacher housing development in California built, owned, and operated by a public school district. Prior to the completion of Casa del Maestro Phase I in 2002, high housing costs in the area had increased the attrition rate of teachers by 300 percent in the five years prior to this venture, and estimates suggest it costs the district upwards of $50,000 just to recruit and train new teachers. Since Casa del Maestro’s completion, the attrition rate for young teachers in the Santa Clara Unified School District has decreased by 75 percent compared to teachers of similar tenure who did not receive this housing benefit.

Most importantly, the students in the district are benefiting as proficiency levels on standardized tests have increased by as much as 30 percent since the introduction of this housing. Although this test score improvement is due to a number of factors, district administration feels that a large part of the improvement can be directly attributed to its housing programs which have resulted in lower staff turnover and the hiring of higher quality employees.

With the outstanding success of Phase I, an additional 30 units were added to bring the total number of units to 70. The apartment layouts are varied, upscale and comparable to most newly-built luxury apartments in the Silicon Valley. All units have large floorplans, modern kitchens, air conditioning, decks or patios and private garages – 50 percent of which have direct access to a unit, a security feature commended particularly by the faculty’s women teachers. The size and layouts of the residences in Phase II include 18 one-bedroom units ranging in size from 702-787 square feet; six one-bedroom plus den units ranging from 829-1,029 square feet; and six two-bedroom, two-bath units totaling 1,122 square feet. Rents range from $980 per month for a one-bedroom unit to $1,400 per month for a two-bedroom which is about 50 percent less than similar quality market-rate units in Santa Clara County.

Phase II also incorporated numerous design and construction upgrades to improve environmental sustainability in order to meet LEED Silver guidelines, including: site plan maximized solar exposure for units, lower parking ratios and reduced foot print to provide more open space; energy standards that are 15 percent more efficient than State mandate; bioswales and retention facilities to collect and treat storm water; drought tolerant planting; use of low VOC paints and sealants; recycling program for construction waste; and use of recycled building materials.

The sustainable design and close proximity to employment, services, and education further increase affordability and benefits for residents who have few affordable housing options. There are over a dozen district campuses, public transit, and retail, restaurants, and services located in neighboring commercial centers.

"Casa del Maestro is a prime example of a self-sustaining community -- environmentally, socially and also economically. Because of the financing structure no district funds were used for the improvements and the rents cover operating costs, reserves and debt service. Even with a softening residential market, home prices and rental rates are still well beyond what most starting teachers can afford in metropolitan areas in California so this type of workforce housing is as vital as ever," said Dorfman. Dorfman added that he believes despite budget restraints, many school districts around the state and the country still have the capacity to follow Santa Clara's lead. Thompson Dorfman provided complete design/build contracting services at cost for the development of Casa del Maestro.

For example, the San Mateo County Community College District, working with Education Housing Partners and KTGY, completed College Vista in 2006, an award-winning 44-unit apartment community built on a 2.3-acre parking lot owned by the district. Similar to Casa del Maestro, College Vista’s below-market rents and incentives for eventual home purchase have successfully reduced attrition of its staff and provided a beneficial recruiting tool. Presently, Education Housing Partners and KTGY are under construction on Canada Vista, an additional 60-unit apartment community on behalf of the San Mateo County Community College District, which is scheduled for completion in 2010.

“Casa del Maestro and College Vista serve as a model for not only other public school districts, but also public and private employers throughout the country. The development structure, financing and design serve as a prototype to address the problem of affordable housing for moderate-income, service-based employees in cost-prohibitive markets in the U.S.,” said KTGY’s Chairman Stan Braden, AIA. “The outstanding success of both the Santa Clara Unified School District and San Mateo County Community College District using the same public-private partnership and financial model, further supports the quality of the concept and its ability to be reproduced.”

About Thompson Dorfman Partners, LLC
Thompson Dorfman Partners, LLC is a real estate development and investment company. Formed in 1999 by Will Thompson and Bruce Dorfman, Thompson Dorfman focuses on multi-family residential development, with particular emphasis on well-sited, urban infill and mixed-use properties located in high growth, technology-driven markets in California. The principals of Thompson Dorfman have more than 25 years experience in the industry and Thompson Dorfman have collectively developed 10,000 multifamily homes in 40 California apartment and condominium communities. In 2004 they formed Education Housing Partners, a California non-profit public benefit corporation, in order to facilitate school districts and public agencies to build workforce housing for their employees. For more information, please visit www.thompsondorfman.com.

About Santa Clara Unified School District
Santa Clara Unified School District (SCUSD) is in the heart of Silicon Valley and includes most of the City of Santa Clara, part of north San Jose and the eastern portion of the City of Sunnyvale. SCUSD includes grades kindergarten through twelfth grade and has an award winning adult education program as well as a strong preschool and day care component. The district educates 14,250 students and has a teaching force of 775 teachers. For more information about SCUSD, go to www.santaclarausd.org.

About Urban Land Institute (ULI)
The Urban Land Institute is a nonprofit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the Institute has more than 40,000 members. For more information, please visit www.uli.org.

About KTGY Group, Inc.
Established in 1991, KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, provides comprehensive planning and award-winning architectural design services for residential communities, retail, hospitality, mixed-use and related specialty developments. KTGY delivers innovative solutions that reflect clear understanding of development, marketing and financial performance and takes particular pride in its highly motivated and principal led studios. Serving clients worldwide, KTGY maintains offices in Irvine, Oakland and Santa Monica, and in Denver. See www.ktgy.com.