KTGY Principals Invited to Speak on Affordable Senior Housing

KTGY Principals to Speak on 50+ Housing Panel in Newport Beach "The Next Generations in Affordable Senior Apartments: Seasons II"
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Stan Braden, AIA and David Kent, AIA to Participate
IRVINE, CALIF. - Award-winning KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, is pleased to announce that two KTGY principals have been invited to speak at the Building Industry Association of Southern California 50+ Housing Council's program, "The Next Generations in Affordable Senior Apartments: Seasons II," on Thursday, September 16, 2010, in Newport Beach, Calif.

KTGY's Stan Braden, AIA, principal and chairman, will participate as a panelist and David W. Kent, AIA and principal, will serve as the moderator. Other panelists will include Kevin Horner, LEED AP and vice president of project management for MacFarlane Costa Housing Partners, LLC and Michael M. Snowdon, vice president of asset management, also with MacFarlane Costa Housing Partners. MacFarlane Costa Housing Partners just completed Seasons II, an affordable senior apartment community in San Juan Capistrano and the company's first project built to LEED standards. This seasoned development team and their award-winning architect will share with the attendees about "going green," including how they adapted cutting-edge technology to the city's historic architecture and the value (in dollars and quality of life) of sustainable, energy-efficient senior housing.

Braden has over 35 years of architectural experience and has been responsible for the design and planning of many award-winning, LEED accredited, high-density residential, mixed-use, affordable, workforce, senior and campus housing projects as well as continuing care retirement communities including extensive community amenity facilities. A licensed architect in California, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico, Braden has been with KTGY since 1992. He is currently a member of American Institute of Architects, National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, and Urban Land Institute.

Kent has more than 30 years of architectural and construction experience. He has worked with major homebuilders as well as architectural firms; and has successfully run his own design firm. Kent’s technical knowledge of construction brings valuable insight to his architectural designs, which is reflected in the success and awards won by many of the projects he is involved with. He has an extensive background in construction costs, project scheduling and governmental processing. His current focus is working with developers in California, Nevada and Arizona to create exciting new residential communities. Kent serves on the board of the 50+ Housing Council.

Noted as one of the country’s top residential design firms, KTGY has won countless awards for its residential and senior housing communities including the Gold Nugget, Builder’s Choice, Best in American Living, Pillars of Industry, MAME, SAM, Multifamily Executive, Multi-Housing News, Elan, Homer, Laurel and SAGE awards.

The event will be held at the Newport Radisson Hotel, 4545 MacArthur Boulevard in Newport Beach. Registration begins at 7:30 am and the program and breakfast start at 8:00 am. To attend the event, call 949.553.9500 or visit www.50PlusHC.com.

About 50+ Housing Council
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, 50+ Housing Council provides networking, education and partnering prospects for Southern California professionals involved in every aspect of building housing specifically for persons aged 50+ − active adult, “age-targeted,” senior condos, 55+ apartments, CCRC’s, Assisted Living, Alzheimer’s care and more. For more information, visit www.50plushc.com.

About BIA/SC
Established in 1923, the Building Industry Association of Southern California (BIA/SC) is a non-profit trade association representing more than 1,800 companies involved in planning and building Southern California’s neighborhoods and communities. Members are involved in all aspects of the building industry, from architecture and green building to roofing and general contracting. For more information, visit www.biasc.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.

KTGY-Designed Teacher Housing on College Campus Opens

Thompson Dorfman Partners Celebrates Opening of KTGY-Designed Teacher Housing on College Campus
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Sustainable Design and Construction Reuses Surplus Parking Lot to Create Affordable Workforce Housing at Cañada College in San Mateo County

OAKLAND, CALIF. – KTGY Group, Inc., Architectural and Planning, is pleased to announce today that a much anticipated housing development for professors and staff of the San Mateo County Community College District (Cañada College, College of San Mateo and Skyline College) is celebrating its grand opening. Developed by Mill Valley, Calif.-based Education Housing Partners, a non-profit affiliate of Thompson Dorfman Partners, LLC, and designed by KTGY, Cañada Vista in Redwood City will provide 60 high quality, affordable apartment homes for faculty and staff at below market rates, and will serve as an effective recruiting and retention tool for the San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD).

In an area dominated by prohibitively high housing costs, this is SMCCCD's second faculty and staff housing development; the first was College Vista built on the College of San Mateo campus in the City of San Mateo. College Vista was also California's first workforce housing project undertaken by a community college district and was so successful that the SMCCCD built Cañada Vista.

Located midway between San Francisco and San Jose, Cañada Vista offers one, two and three bedroom apartments with rents ranging from $975 to $1,600 a month, approximately 50 percent of the current market rate for similar quality apartments in the area. The apartment homes feature spacious deluxe kitchens with gas stoves and Energy Star appliances including refrigerators and upgraded cabinetry, nine-foot ceilings, large picture windows, a walk-in closet in the master bedroom, and all window coverings. Each residence also has hardwood flooring in the entryway, central air conditioning, individual washers/dryers, a linen closet, sliding glass doors, and a large, private patio or deck. Many units have a private attached garage. In addition, the units are wired for computer and internet access and have individual utility meters to encourage conservation.

“Despite the low rental rates for Cañada Vista residents, Cañada Vista offers many of the same well-appointed amenities and features of an upscale, market-rate apartment community,” said KTGY Group’s Principal Stan Braden, AIA, based in Irvine, Calif. “The 60-unit development offers spacious layouts of up to three bedrooms in two and three-story Craftsman-inspired buildings with panoramic views of coastal hills, Silicon Valley, and the San Francisco Bay."

There is also a Clubhouse situated between Cañada Vista’s two buildings. “The Clubhouse is a ‘great room’ complete with a fireplace and is flanked by a kitchen on one side and a game room with a large-screen television on the other. A large covered deck provides a panoramic view of the San Francisco Bay to the east,” Braden noted. Residents can use the Clubhouse facility for parties or dinners, and it can be used for district and faculty meetings.

“The goal with Cañada Vista and College Vista was to create quality, affordable rental housing for San Mateo County's community college faculty and staff in one of the most expensive residential markets in the state,” said Bruce Dorfman, a principal at Thompson Dorfman of Mill Valley, Calif. “By offering attractive workforce housing at affordable rents, SMCCCD is able to recruit and retain valuable college staff and faculty. Cañada Vista is also conveniently located within walking distance to campus classrooms and facilities, providing additional cost and time savings for the residents.”

“By providing housing for our employees, we have a competitive advantage over other colleges in the area who are competing with us to hire talented faculty and staff," said Barbara Christensen, director of community and government relations for the SMCCCD. "We can offer recruited employees first class housing at a bargain price plus a college teaching or support job. Several recruited faculty members who had multiple offers of employment choose to work for us because we offered a terrific housing option. We are just thrilled with the success of both developments and what it means to the district and the quality of education that we can offer our community."

Even before College Vista opened in December 2005, there was a long waiting list of employees who wanted to live there, reports Christensen. Priority for prospective Cañada Vista renters is given to full-time faculty and staff who have never owned a home. “Preference is given to those employees who earn 120 percent of the median income for the area or less,” said Christensen. “Qualified employees can rent for up to five years at Cañada Vista; the idea being that they can set aside money during this time to purchase a home.” The District also has a mortgage-assistance program offering low-cost second mortgages of up to $75,000 to help faculty and staff buy a home.

Dorfman added that despite budget constraints, he believes many school districts around the state and the country still have the capacity to follow SMCCCD's lead. "Cañada Vista is a prime example of a self-sustaining community -- environmentally, socially and also economically. Because of the financing structure and the fact that SMCCCD already owned the land, no district general funds were used for the improvements or operations, as 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.

“Long term, this type of housing supports education and the community, and validates the concept of quality infill development,” stated Dorfman. “Cañada Vista is a model for both successful public-private partnership and workforce housing that can easily be replicated by other school districts and public agencies in areas nationwide with a high cost of living. It also demonstrates how school districts, public agencies and private companies can use underutilized parking lots for housing and protect their open space." Cañada Vista was built on the site of a former 2.75-acre parking lot.

Thompson Dorfman, in conjunction with KTGY, developed a similar workforce housing development for the Santa Clara Unified School District (SCUSD), Casa del Maestro, at a former middle school site in April 2002. Due to overwhelming demand from its faculty and staff, SCUSD built a second phase to nearly double the number of units available.

Thompson Dorfman Partners is an award-winning developer best known for its luxury residential developments. The 10-year-old firm has developed more than $1.7 billion in projects throughout California. Last year, Thompson Dorfman completed 555 YVR, Downtown Walnut Creek’s first transit-oriented luxury residential community, developed with the young professionals in mind. 555 YVR 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 555 YVR.

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 development of workforce housing for employees of school districts and public agencies. For more information, please visit www.thompsondorfman.com.

About San Mateo County Community College District
San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) is a three college District located between San Francisco and the Silicon Valley. The colleges serve more than 42,000 students each year and offer the first two years of instruction in a wide variety of transfer programs as well as more than 90 vocational-technical programs. Students can earn either Associate in Arts or Science degrees or receive Certificates of Proficiency in their chosen fields. The community colleges are College of San Mateo in San Mateo, Skyline College in San Bruno and Cañada College in Redwood City. For more information about SMCCCD, visit www.smccd.edu.

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.

UHC Begins Construction on 42-Unit Affordable Housing Community Designed by KTGY Group

Urban Housing Communities Begins Construction on City's First Affordable Apartments Targeting Families in Big Bear Lake

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KTGY-designed $17 Million Community Offers High Quality, Eco-Friendly Workforce Housing

SANTA ANA, CALIF. — Urban Housing Communities LLC (UHC) is pleased to announce construction of The Crossings at Big Bear Lake, a 42-unit affordable housing community developed in collaboration with the City of Big Bear Lake’s Improvement Agency, Bank of America, and architecture and planning firm KTGY Group, Inc. Upon completion next summer, this new $17 million community will offer healthy, supportive and eco-friendly apartment homes to local working families earning between 30 percent and 60 percent of San Bernardino County median income.

Designed by KTGY, The Crossings at Big Bear Lake will offer 28 two-bedroom two-story townhomes and 14 three-bedroom single-story flats averaging approximately 1,100 square feet. Each thoughtfully-planned apartment home will offer central heat, ceiling fans, a covered patio or balcony, energy-efficient kitchen appliances, washer/dryer hookups, high speed internet access and be wired for cable television. Rents are expected to range from $449 to $1,038 per month, based on family size and income level.

Located on 2.60 acres of land on Knickerbocker Road between Pennsylvania Avenue and Maryland Road south of Big Bear Blvd. (Highway 18), the community will feature a spacious 2,500-square-foot community room, a computer lab, a fully-equipped kitchen, a manager’s office, picnic and BBQ areas, a playground, laundry facilities and landscaped courtyard areas. The community room will serve as the location of a supportive services program provided by UHC’s non-profit partner, Central Valley Coalition for Affordable Housing (CVCAH). Designed to meet residents’ specific physical, educational, professional and social needs, CVCAH’s supportive services program will offer health clinics, after-school tutoring, budget planning, credit counseling, resume writing, computer training, fitness/nutrition classes, and targeted youth and senior activities.

The new affordable apartment community will be convenient to schools, public transportation, shopping, medical services, a public park and recreation areas, and is approximately a 10 minute walk from Big Bear Lake Village, the city’s premiere shopping and entertainment district.a

The Crossings at Big Bear Lake represents a milestone for the City, which is home to over 6,000 full-time residents. While the City does offer some affordable housing, its stock consists mainly of aging single-family homes and one affordable senior community. The Crossings at Big Bear Lake will be the City’s first affordable community targeted toward families.

“Most people know Big Bear Lake as a vacation destination, but it’s also a city that confronts the same issues of housing, healthcare and education as more urban areas,” said John Bigley, Chief Operating Officer of Urban Housing Communities. “A certain level of affordability is required to sustain the local workforce that supports the City’s year-round recreation activities that entice vacationers to the area, such as skiing and snowboarding during the winter and boating and biking in the summer. We believe the quality affordable housing offered by The Crossings at Big Bear Lake will help the City achieve its long-term goals by attracting and retaining both businesses and employees,” Bigley added.

"We are so pleased and proud to welcome UHC and Bank of America to the community as our partners in developing high-quality, family-oriented affordable housing for our work force," said Big Bear Lake's City Manager Jeff Mathieu. "We expect this new, fully-appointed apartment community to be an asset for the City of Big Bear Lake by providing our workforce with the opportunity to enjoy the Big Bear lifestyle in a safe, clean and modern environment without the threat of fast rising rents in the future that will surely price them out of the market as soon as the economy recovers."

Situated adjacent to a new neighborhood of single-family developments and across from Big Bear Elementary School, The Crossings at Big Bear Lake will improve vacant, untended property. “The new residential apartment community was planned and designed to fit in with the image of the Big Bear Mountain community,” said KTGY's Chris Texter, AIA, LEED AP and Principal. “Heavy timber wood details can be seen in the corbels supporting the large roof overhangs that are common in Big Bear. The apartment homes are part of a redevelopment infill and include heavy timber gable end framing, stone veneer and siding. Each building is planned in such a way to respect and add to the current street scene, residences, trees and other site opportunities and are oriented around a central garden, tot lot and community center amenities for the families,” Texter added.

“KTGY is committed to Urban Housing Communities’ mission to provide affordable housing within a community design that is contextual and well designed and meets the needs of its residents. We believe that The Crossings at Big Bear Lake achieves UHC’s vision with these beautiful new apartment homes and architecture that evokes a mountain community. We are confident that families will appreciate the high quality and the outstanding amenities that The Crossings at Big Bear Lake has to offer," noted Texter.

SL Residential, the general contractor for the project, began construction on July 15 and plans to recycle at least 75 percent of construction waste. Other eco-friendly design features include solar panels for generating electricity to the community room and common areas; gas condensing tankless water heaters; Energy Star rated lighting, windows and gas appliances; “Dark Sky” compliant exterior lighting; water-saving fixtures in the kitchens and bathrooms; high-efficiency dual-flush toilets; flooring, railings, furniture, BBQs, and trash and recycling receptacles made from recycled content; zero-VOC interior paints and low-VOC interior finishes and adhesives; building materials that contain recycled content and do not emit harmful chemicals; and bike racks. Early in the design process, UHC consulted an arborist in an effort to preserve some of the existing onsite trees.

UHC partnered with the City of Big Bear Lake’s Improvement Agency in 2009 to increase the City’s affordable housing stock in a manner consistent with the goals of the Redevelopment Plan. The Improvement Agency committed funding through a soft loan and UHC secured financing through the highly competitive 9 percent tax credit program. Additional financing for the project was provided by the Bank of America Community Development Corporation (BACDC), Bank of America, National Equity Fund (NEF) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

The Crossings at Big Bear Lake is UHC’s second project to begin construction in less than 30 days. UHC recently broke ground on The Crossings at Escondido, a KTGY-designed residential community that will feature 55 high quality, affordable apartment homes for working families in San Diego County. Families interested in living at The Crossings at Big Bear Lake, should contact AWI Management Corporation, Inc. at (530) 745-6249.

About Urban Housing Communities

Urban Housing Communities LLC is a "mission driven for-profit" affordable housing development partner of Morgan Stanley and Banc of America Community Development Corporation specializing in multifamily and senior housing facilities in California and Hawaii. UHC was formed in 2003 by executives of SunAmerica and ASL Housing, and has since been joined by professionals from KB Home, CalFed Bank and the California State University System. Together, they have financed or developed over 10,000 units of housing. For more information, visit www.uhcllc.net.

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.

Construction to Begin on KTGY-Designed Valley Brook Townhomes

KTGY-Designed, Eco-Friendly Workforce Housing to Break Ground in Breckenridge, Colorado
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Construction to begin on Valley Brook for 42 Local Employees and Their Families

DENVER, COLO. - According to KTGY Group Inc., Architecture and Planning, a new residential development will break ground next month in Breckenridge, Colo. Designed to LEED® Silver standards by KTGY Group on the site of a former airport runway owned by the town, Valley Brook will provide high-quality, environmentally-friendly, transit-oriented workforce housing for local employees and their families. The new 4.5-acre infill development will consist of 42 two-story for-sale townhome units ranging in size from 1,150 square feet to 1,384 square feet and offering two to three bedrooms with attached garages.

"Affordable workforce housing is important for the economic vitality of the Town of Breckenridge and to preserve the character of our community,” said Laurie Best, long-range planner with the Town. “We are looking forward to the development of Valley Brook to create an affordable neighborhood that is ideally located close to schools, jobs, parks, shopping, trails and transit.”

Located at 1100 Airport Road in Breckenridge, between Upper Blue Elementary School and the Breckenridge Police Department, Valley Brook will be built as an environmentally-friendly residential community promoting healthy living and sustainable practices. It is designed to LEED® Silver standards. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and provides a definitive national standard for what constitutes a “green building” and is administered by the U.S. Green Building Council. The project is an in-fill development site, and features solar photo-voltaic panel systems and ENERGY STAR appliances and light fixtures. Other green features include: high-grade energy efficient windows, water-saving fixtures including high-efficiency dual flush toilets, low flow faucets and shower heads, low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) paint and adhesives, carpet made from a high percentage of recycled content and a community recycling program. Each home will also have a passive radon mitigation system, high efficiency hot water heaters, and indoor air quality exhaust system. Landscaping will be focused on native species that don't need long-term irrigation.

The Valley Brook townhomes will also include large two-car tandem garages, attic storage, front porches and entries. The pedestrian-friendly site plan also provides a one-way loop road. The residents of Valley Brook can also take advantage of the adjacent Blue River corridor and connection to bike trails and walking paths. Recent improvements to the nearby path, which include the addition of a new bridge over the river, will make the neighborhood more easily accessible to the network of paths. The neighborhood will eventually include a playground and a common recreational area.

KTGY's Principal Michael Ohara, AIA, states that Valley Brook's mountain-Victorian style design, reminiscent of the mining heritage of the Colorado Mountains, will seamlessly integrate into the aesthetic fabric of the neighborhood and use the same high quality finishes and materials as surrounding market-rate properties. “Architectural integration is always a top priority for all of our residential projects,” Ohara notes. “We adjusted the roof planes on the various buildings to maximize solar exposure for the PV panels. The result was a pleasing variation in the building elevations that we accentuated with color and the use of varied exterior details.”

Of the 42 units, which will be built in phases, there will be 14 two-bedroom/two-bath townhomes available to those who qualify at the 80 percent area median income (AMI) level, priced at $165,000. Also at the 80 percent AMI level, there will be eight three-bedroom/two-bath units, selling for $187,500.

At 105 percent AMI, there will be 14 two-bedroom/two-bath townhomes, each selling for $267,000. Additionally, there will be six three-bedroom/two-bath units available for those at 105 percent AMI, which will sell for $302,000.

“The Town of Breckenridge is truly a leader in balancing the housing needs of both its year-round residents and its visitors,” says Ohara. The Town of Breckenridge offers a challenge to attainable housing that larger population centers don’t face. Breckenridge's basic industry, tourism, requires a large number of seasonal workers as well as full-time permanent workers, thus it needs all types of housing, from ownership to employee and short-term rental housing (six months or less). Tourism also creates a diverse employment base of non-basic industries: retail, housing, utilities, public transportation, personal care, health, education, local government, finance, entertainment and social services.

"If we cannot provide housing for those that work in these non-basic industries, it will be difficult, and ultimately, perhaps impossible, to sustain our basic industry – tourism," adds Best.

“Sustainable design and close proximity to jobs, services and education further increase affordability for residents who have few affordable housing options, especially for larger families,” says Ohara. A family of four earning $69,760 (80 percent of area median income) will pay about $187,500 to purchase a three-bedroom townhome at Valley Brook.

Recognized as a leader in the region, KTGY continues its stride in producing award-winning workforce housing developments that integrate the latest urban design trends and green building technologies with the needs of the end user. KTGY is well recognized for its designs in single family, affordable, senior and campus housing as well as retail, hospitality, mixed-use and related specialty developments.

For more information, call the Town of Breckenridge at (970) 547-3112 or the Summit Combined Housing Authority at (970) 423-7044 or (970) 423-7041 or visitwww.summithousing.us.

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.

KTGY-Designed The Crossings at Escondido Breaks Ground

UHC Breaks Ground on The Crossings at Escondido, a 55-Unit High Quality Affordable Housing Community
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KTGY-designed new community features 55 safe, healthy, attractive and supportive apartment homes for working families in Escondido

ESCONDIDO, CALIF. - Urban Housing Communities LLC will gather next Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. with City of Escondido officials including the Mayor and City Council, architect KTGY Group, project partners and local residents for the ceremonial groundbreaking on the future site of The Crossings at Escondido. In 12 short months, working families living in the Mission Park area of Escondido will have a new place to call home.

“This will be a beautiful project for the community that will bring change to the Mission Park neighborhood in a positive way. This project will provide wonderful opportunities for people to live in healthy, well-managed housing with easy access to schools, transportation and services. It's a very exciting project!” said Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler.

Designed by Irvine-based KTGY Group, the development of The Crossings at Escondido marks the transformation of a street plagued by deterioration, poverty, gangs, drugs, and overcrowding into a safe, family-friendly community. “The Crossings at Escondido represents more than just another development by UHC,” said John Bigley, Chief Operating Officer for UHC. “Today we see work beginning—buildings being demolished and dirt being turned—to make life better not just for the people who will one day live here, but for the entire community. This project is just one component of the City of Escondido’s overall plans for revitalization.”

The Crossings at Escondido will enhance neighborhood aesthetics, embrace eco-friendly design principles and offer a supportive resident services program while providing affordable family living. Formerly known as “Elder Place,” UHC successfully collaborated with the City to have the street renamed Mission Grove Place to reflect a fresh start for the neighborhood. The name Mission Grove Place was drawn from two nearby landmarks, Mission Middle School and Grove Park.

The Crossings at Escondido is the product of an effectively leveraged partnership between UHC and the City of Escondido Community Development Commission. The City committed funding by partnering with UHC to acquire the land. Subsequently, UHC secured financing through the highly competitive 9 percent tax credit program. Additional financing for the project was provided by Wells Fargo Bank N.A., the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and the California Community Reinvestment Corporation.

About The Crossings at Escondido

The Crossings at Escondido will feature 38 two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath townhomes, 15 three-bedroom, two-bath flats, and two four-bedroom two-bath flats. Apartment sizes average 1,200 square feet. Each unit will offer Energy Star appliances, central heat and air conditioning, a covered patio or balcony, washer/dryer hookups, high speed internet access and be wired for cable TV. Community amenities include a recreation room with a computer lab, media center and kitchen, picnic areas and two playgrounds.

The Crossings at Escondido was designed not only to complement the surrounding neighborhoods but also with a vision to create a higher standard for affordable housing. With a pedestrian friendly emphasis, each residence is provided with private, ground floor entries located among generous landscaped spaces. These "outdoor rooms" are provided in a variety of configurations from the more intimately scaled spaces intended for passive recreation to the centrally located playground and lawn for active recreation. Proposed to reflect the historic precedent in Escondido, the architecture is designed with a Craftsman style in mind. Details such as deep roof overhangs, porch columns, horizontal siding placement and accent shutters emphasize the simplicity of detailing. These three-story building facades are articulated with ridge/eave breaks as well as one- and two-story massing not only to provide a varied street scene but also to step the building down to a pedestrian scale.

Construction is scheduled to begin on June 21st, with at least 75 percent of the construction and demolition waste being recycled. The project exceeds California’s Title 24 energy efficiency standards by 15 percent. Eco-friendly design features include solar panels to generate electricity for the common areas and outdoor lighting; radiant barriers under the roof sheathing; water-saving fixtures in the kitchen and bathrooms; dual flush toilets; tankless water heaters; Energy Star rated lighting, appliances, windows and sliding glass doors; low-VOC paints, adhesives and finishes, and low dust stucco; building materials that contain recycled content, do not emit harmful chemicals and are manufactured in environmentally-friendly plants; products fabricated from engineered wood; and furniture, barbeques and trash receptacles made from recycled content. Competitive Edge Construction, Inc. is the general contractor.

The Crossings at Escondido effectively blends housing with onsite supportive services designed to help residents move toward a life of stability and opportunity while becoming self sustaining members of their community. UHC has selected non-profit social service provider, Western Community Housing, to provide health and wellness services, educational classes, job attainment assistance, life skills training, youth programs, and community-building activities.

The Crossings at Escondido will be home to 55 families earning 30 to 60 percent of the area median income for San Diego County. Rents range from $557 to $1,124 per month based on family size and income level. Interested applicants should contact Solari Enterprises, Inc. at (714) 282-2520.

About Urban Housing Communities

Urban Housing Communities LLC is a "mission driven for-profit" affordable housing development partner of Morgan Stanley and Banc of America Community Development Corporation specializing in multifamily and senior housing facilities in California and Hawaii. UHC was formed in 2003 by executives of SunAmerica and ASL Housing, and has since been joined by professionals from KB Home, CalFed Bank and the California State University System. Together, they have financed or developed over 10,000 units of housing. For more information, visit www.uhcllc.net.

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.

UHC MEDIA CONTACT:
Merilee Langdon
(714) 835-3955 x120
mlangdon@uhcllc.net

Real Estate Veteran Robin DeLotell Leverages Business Relationships to Launch New Company

CORONA DEL MAR, CALIF. - With over 25 years focused on business development and marketing for the real estate community, industry veteran Robin DeLotell has launched Robin DeLotell & Associates (RDA) to enhance client capabilities and create new opportunities for clients to gain market share and boost revenues. DeLotell originally founded RDA in 1993 with clients such as KTGY Group, Inc., The Collaborative West, Linscott, Law & Greenspan, Roxburgh Agency, and others. She joined KTGY full-time in 2005 and then became a partner, where she helped build and establish the 25-person architectural firm as one of the largest and most respected architectural and planning firms in the country.

RDA’s host of services include strategic positioning and marketing, comprehensive business and marketing plan development and implementation, company diversification and expansion, domestic and international business development, strategic leveraging to connect people and businesses, alliance formation, event coordination including seminars, advisory groups, and trade shows, and business development/marketing staff training.

"With the current market dynamics, there is a strong demand for results-driven business development and marketing services provided on an outsourced basis," said DeLotell. "Launching Robin DeLotell & Associates at this time allows me to take RDA to the next level with the added five-year exposure to high-level client relationships as well as collaborating with a variety of firms that can benefit from my expertise and industry relationships." DeLotell will continue to work with KTGY and The Collaborative West, an international landscape architecture firm.

"I love this industry and the people in it, and bringing companies together that can benefit from each other’s experience and services," DeLotell said. "Long-term relationships and the ability to strategically leverage these relationships are what allows a firm to gain market share and increase revenues."

DeLotell's business strategy is to elevate her clients' visibility by utilizing her existing key relationships as well as RDA’s client’s relationships to establish one-on-one targeted meetings, alliance formation, event coordination, participation at trade events, and membership in professional organizations. "The key to RDA’s client’s success is follow-through until we get the job/client,” said DeLotell. “I find that is the real difference between successful business development people and the rest. Follow-up is vital and I have a proven track record at maintaining long-term relationships as well as doing the necessary follow-up until the deal is done.”

According to KTGY's CEO Tricia Esser, "Robin DeLotell's professionalism and dedication to understanding where the market is headed and how to help position us in the community has been a valuable asset to our firm. Her commitment to connecting KTGY with the industry and building great, lasting relationships has been essential to KTGY's success."

The Collaborative West President Paul Haden said, "I have collaborated with Robin DeLotell in business development in a host of markets, regions and client types -- commercial, residential, institutional -- both in the private and public sectors. She is a professional who brings great ideas, a superb knowledge of the industry, and a commitment to her work that is truly unique. Robin is, in short, a 'results professional.’”

What building trends does DeLotell see on the horizon? “I see the real estate industry's focus on transit-oriented developments (TODs) and real placemaking continuing,” DeLotell said. “I also see the demand for more affordable housing to continue and homebuilders will respond by building smaller homes, located closer to work (infill), and to be energy efficient. I don’t believe that many consumers are interested in spending more money on a home just to have it environmentally-friendly, but builders are finding ways to incorporate green building products and practices that will not add to the cost and will save consumers money on their monthly utility bills as well as being good for the environment. Building green will become an amenity and not a cost to the consumer," DeLotell added.

DeLotell graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Planning from California Polytechnic State University, Pomona. She has been a full member of Urban Land Institute (ULI) since 1988 and is currently the Vice-Chair of Programs for ULI's Orange County District Council, a member of ULI's national Sustainability Development Council and a member of ULI's Urban Marketplace 2010 committee. She is also a past Vice-Chair of Sponsorship for ULI's Orange County District Council and Building Industry Show Seminar Committee Co-Chairman for two consecutive years. Other professional affiliations include International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), Orange County Building Industry Association (BIA) and United States Green Building Council (USGBC). In 2009, USBGC awarded DeLotell the LEED Green Associate designation.

About Robin DeLotell & Associates
With over 25 years focused on business development and marketing for the real estate industry, Robin DeLotell & Associates has established long-term client/consultant relationships that increase revenues and visibility to foster opportunities and expansion. Robin DeLotell & Associates provides a responsive, nimble, and personal approach to business development that can only be achieved by working with a synergistic client base. The firm's goal is client success, which is accomplished through a complete understanding of a client's business and developing a strategy that is specific, realistic, and attainable. For more information, email robin@delotell.com or visit www.delotell.com.

KTGY Principal Ken Ryan Invited to Speak on TOD Design Trends at Fresno Convention Center
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“TOD Development: Design Trends, Considerations and Everything Else Mother Never Taught You"

IRVINE, CALIF. - Award-winning KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, is pleased to announce that Ken Ryan has been invited to participate as a speaker at the City of Fresno's Workshop, "Making Transit Oriented Development (TOD) a Reality in the San Joaquin Valley," on Friday, May 28, 2010, at the Fresno Convention Center from 8:30 am - 4:00 pm. Ryan is a principal and head of KTGY’s community planning and urban design studio and Ryan and his studio are currently serving as the design advisor for the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC) High Speed Rail Transportation District, located next to Angel Stadium. ARTIC recently received Southern California Association of Governments’ (SCAG) 2010 Compass Blueprint Recognition Award for Sustained Leadership and the 2009 Gold Nugget Outstanding On-the-Boards Site Plan Grand Award.

Ryan's presentation, “TOD Development: Design Trends, Considerations and Everything Else Mother Never Taught You," will feature the latest trends in the design of TODs including innovative, environmental-friendly technologies as well as how to create successful TODs that complement, revitalize and support the local economy. Ryan will highlight TOD examples, review lessons learned from initial ideas to the built environment, and offer insights regarding the challenges and opportunities for addressing the issues of place, livability, demographics/lifestyle, phasing, and mobility from a design perspective. Attendees will be provided a handout summarizing key Design Guideline considerations, areas to avoid, and elements to embrace as part of TOD planning. His presentation will start at 2:30 pm.

With over 25 years of experience, Ryan has been responsible for a wide variety of complex, high-profile projects throughout the United States. His impressive list of recent projects includes ARTIC, Corona High Speed Rail Transit District, Aldea Town Center at Porter Ranch, Chapman University, and La Floresta, a multigenerational urban infill community.

“By sharing some of our work, we hope to engage and enlighten attendees to the possibilities of how TOD, particularly as it relates to the current High Speed Rail efforts, provides a strong platform for addressing the issues of livability, affordability, sustainability and mobility in a deeper, more integrated way," Ryan says. “It’s more than reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT); it’s about applying the fundamentals of great neighborhoods to an urban setting and allowing for compelling memorable places to emerge."

Ryan has served on numerous local, regional and national boards including: two-term past Mayor of the City of Yorba Linda; past two-term Chairman of the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Toll Road Agency; past Board Member of the Orange County/Riverside County Major Investment Study (MIS) Corridor Agency; past Board Member of the Transportation Corridor System (TCS) Orange County Toll Road Agency. He is currently: Advisory Board Chairman for Abode Communities of Orange County; a member of the National Board of Directors for Trauma Intervention Programs, Inc.; Chairman of the Placentia Linda Hospital's Governing Board; and is an Advisory Board Member of Planning, Policy, and Design at U.C. Irvine. He is a past Member of the Board of Directors of the Orange County Fire Authority; and recently served as a Member of the City of Anaheim’s Housing Element Ad Hoc Committee.

Ryan has been selected numerous times in Builder & Developer magazine’s “Who’s Who in Homebuilding”, was recognized as one of the 25 Most Influential People in North Orange County Magazine, and was one of three representatives from the United States invited to participate in an International roundtable discussion held at the SINO-International Real Estate Summit in Shanghai, China. He guest lectures at University of Southern California (USC), California Polytechnic State University, Pomona, and University of California, Irvine, and has published numerous articles regarding the planning profession. He regularly participates in Orange County radio and television programs and printed media interviews and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Planning from California Polytechnic State University, Pomona.

For more information about the event, visit www.fresno.gov/TODWorkshops or contact Bonique Salinas at the City of Fresno at Bonique.Salinas@fresno.gov or 559.621.8024.

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.

KTGY Designed ARTIC Honored for Leadership in Sustainability By Southern California Association of Governments

IRVINE, CALIF. - Award-winning KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, is pleased to announce that the plans for the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC) have received the Southern California Association of Governments’ (SCAG) 2010 Compass Blueprint Recognition Award for Sustained Leadership. The award program honors plans and projects throughout Southern California that coordinate land use and transportation initiatives and work toward improving the mobility, livability, prosperity and sustainability in the region. KTGY serves as the Urban Design Advisor to the City of Anaheim and prepared ARTIC’s Master Plan and the Mixed-Use District Conceptual Development Guidelines.

ARTIC is envisioned as a world-class transportation hub that will accommodate high-speed rail, California/Nevada maglev trains, Metrolink and Amtrak trains, and various modes of ground transportation. This major transit gateway will connect Orange County to other areas in California, the United States and around the world, and help ease the demand for local and regional airport expansion. The ARTIC Mixed-Use District project combines ARTIC with a vibrant mixed-use activity center on a 15.7-acre site, which is owned and planned jointly by the City of Anaheim and Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA).

According to Ken Ryan, principal and head of KTGY’s community planning and urban design studio, the development intent of the ARTIC Mixed-Use District is to serve as a catalyst for urban development in the project vicinity, connecting existing entertainment/sports venues and commercial development with the planned ARTIC facility while generating opportunities for new development. A mix of land uses that complement and support the ARTIC and the local Platinum Triangle area will be developed on the site. Potential land uses may consist of retail, dining, office, civic, hospitality and residential uses. This public-private partnership project is anticipated to be implemented in multiple phases over the next 20 years.

KTGY’s design and planning team includes: Ken Ryan; Mark Hickner, planning and entitlement director; Geoff Graney, senior project planner; and Lora Kennedy, project planner. Ryan served two terms as the Mayor of the City of Yorba Linda. All are based out of the firm’s Irvine office. Agency participants include Mayor Curt Pringle, City of Anaheim; Natalie Meeks, director of public works, City of Anaheim; Jamie Lai, transit manager, City of Anaheim; and Jennifer Bergener, transit program manager, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA).

The panel of eight judges praised the plans for ARTIC because of the state-of-the-art facility that uses innovative, environmental-friendly technologies and the new development opportunities it creates that complement, revitalizes and supports the local economy. The judges also acknowledged not only how ARTIC accommodates multi-modal transportation opportunities, but also applies the fundamentals of great neighborhoods to an urban transit setting, with the intent of responding more deeply to the issues of mobility, affordability, livability, and place in a sustainable attractive environment.This year’s Compass Blueprint Recognition Awards Program was held on May 5, 2010, at the La Quinta Resort and Spa in La Quinta, in conjunction with the SCAG Regional Conference and General Assembly. Only 12 Compass Blueprint Recognition Awards in various categories were presented.

ARTIC has also been honored by the Orange County Section of the American Planning Association (APA) with the 2009 Outstanding Planning Award for Focused Issue Planning, which recognizes an unusually high merit report or development plan; and the Gold Nugget Award of Merit for "Outstanding On-The-Boards Site Plan."

ARTIC is situated at the intersection of major freeways and is a short walk from Angel Stadium of Anaheim and Honda Center. Construction is slated to begin next year on the site. For more information about ARTIC, visit the project web site at www.ARTICinfo.com.

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.

KTGY Principal Chris Texter to Speak at Orange County Housing Trust Summit in Irvine
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New Ideas and New Direction: Housing Innovation and Sustainability

IRVINE, CALIF. - Award-winning KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, is pleased to announce that Chris Texter, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP and principal has been invited to participate as a speaker at Orange County Housing Trust’s fourth annual summit, “New Ideas & New Directions: Looking Towards the Future,” on May 20, 2010, at the University of California, Irvine, at the Student Center from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm. This year’s Summit will feature a diversity of experts who will bring insight and clarity to the county’s and state’s housing status and offer their views on Orange County’s housing future.

Texter’s presentation, “New Ideas and New Direction: Housing Innovation and Sustainability,” will focus on the new design trends, green products and sustainable technologies that are influencing the housing industry. The presentation will include examples of recent and future communities that demonstrate innovative and practical solutions to sustainable communities. The projects will illustrate how architectural design is impacted by Sustainable ideas imposed on the community and by ideas by choice. These will include communities that promote sustainable lifestyles by way of Transit Oriented Development, Mixed Use or Urban Infill to sustainable building construction in Urban and Suburban communities. The presentation will demonstrate the ability to integrate sustainable building practices into the planning, construction and operation into affordable and market rate construction. His presentation begins at 10:55 am.

“It is no longer a question of providing sustainable design features as a novelty because sustainable building practices have gone main stream,” Texter said. “The builder or developer that is not incorporating sustainable features will be behind the market demand. We are now at a point of determining the furthest extent to which sustainable building practices can be integrated based on market demand, selling/renting prices and budgets.”

The question is how will planning and architecture actually influence the lifestyle choices that lead to sustainable “living” not just a sustainable “building,” Texter asks. “Planning communities based on a core that supports the adjacent living will have a different impact on our lifestyle then the recent past. Whether this adjacency is either vertical or located across the street, differing uses are no longer seen as non-compatible. Furthermore, not only are these uses compatible but they are harmonious and should exist as one in a sustainable living environment. The focus has broadened from the sustainable building product to the sustainable community to the sustainable city,” Texter said.

Concentrating on multi-family and mixed-use developments, Texter is called upon for his keen knowledge and talent in code interpretation, leading to unique solutions and innovative designs for KTGY’s clients. With nearly two decades of experience throughout California and Nevada, Texter excels in the resolution of complex challenges including difficult sites, tight budgets, and scheduling concerns.

For more information about the event, visit www.ochousingsummit.com.

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.

KTGY-Designed Affordable Apartments Adjacent to Colma BART Station to Celebrate Grand Opening
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BRIDGE Housing Corporation Completes Trestle Glen for Families Who Earn 20% to 50% of San Mateo County Median Income

OAKLAND, CALIF. – KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, announces the grand opening celebration of Trestle Glen, a transit-oriented, eco- and pedestrian-friendly apartment community located in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County, adjacent to the Colma BART Station. Developed by BRIDGE Housing Corporation, the leading nonprofit developer of affordable homes in California, Trestle Glen provides high-quality workforce housing to families earning between 20 percent and 50 percent of the area median income. The KTGY-designed Trestle Glen offers 119 thoughtfully-planned dwellings ranging in size from one- to three-bedroom units; 28 one-, 44 two-, and 47 three-bedroom apartment homes. Rent is currently $403 to $1,400 per month, based on family and apartment size and income level.

With a GreenPoint Rated score of 128, where 50 points is a minimum requirement, the new $44.5 million, five-story development located at 370 F Street, incorporates Spanish Mediterranean architectural elements and offers a number of “green” features such as solar panels to preheat domestic hot water, bio-swales that naturally filter rainwater and a community recycling program. During construction more than 80 percent of waste generated was recycled and diverted from landfills.

Trestle Glen features a community center with a kitchen, a 56-space childcare facility with outdoor play space, landscaped courtyard areas, basketball court, tot lot and convenient laundry facilities. The apartment community’s onsite resident services are expected to include programs such as childcare, English as a Second Language classes, homebuyer workshops, credit counseling and financial management classes, computer skills, and after-school programs and homework clubs.

“Trestle Glen provides a positive example to the community of quality, affordable housing and is a stepping stone for family advancement,” said BRIDGE Housing President and CEO Cynthia Parker. “Affordable homes integrated with services give residents more opportunities to increase their education, build skills for better jobs, and plan for homeownership. Children can have more stability in their lives and do better in school.”

Trestle Glen’s location encourages walkability and the use of the adjacent BART transit, and transforms El Camino Real into a vibrant, safe, and welcoming place to live, work, and play. The apartment community’s sustainable design and construction reduce its carbon footprint and add to the affordability by reducing automobile-associated expenses and utility costs.

“In addition to below market rents, Trestle Glen’s close proximity to public transportation, jobs, services and education further increase affordability for residents who have few affordable housing options, especially for larger families,” said Jill D. Williams, AIA and principal at KTGY.

The average household in San Mateo County spends $32,693 annually on housing. “Trestle Glen addresses the severe affordable housing need especially for working families in San Mateo County with annual incomes ranging from $16,491 to $56,550 for a household of four,” said Parker.

Trestle Glen is situated on the site of a former mobile home park at 370 F Street, which previously housed 42 individuals and families, and now serves 119 families plus the addition of 32 future entry-level for-sale townhomes by another developer.

“KTGY has enjoyed creating livable communities for working families with BRIDGE Housing since our first collaboration in 1998,” said Williams. “Trestle Glen offered an opportunity for a higher density solution for an underutilized infill site. This 2.7-acre triangular-shaped parcel, adjacent to BART, took the collaboration of the design team working closely with BRIDGE Housing, the Town of Colma and San Mateo County to fulfill the ultimate best use.”

Trestle Glen’s attractive design and cohesive layout encourage a sense of community among residents. “The placement of shared spaces such as the community center, lobby and courtyard elevate the importance of onsite resident services and social interaction and increase resident satisfaction,” Williams noted. “The on grade parking is tucked out of sight under four stories of high quality residential living.”

Trestle Glen’s common area walls are decorated with art from Creativity Explored, a nonprofit visual arts center where artists with developmental disabilities create, exhibit, and sell art, inspire residents and support community.

"As a member of Build-It Green as well as the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), KTGY continues to stay at the forefront of this dynamic industry and have LEED accredited and sustainability/green building experts," said Williams. “We work in partnership with our clients to get the most benefit from incorporating eco-friendly and sustainable architecture programs into our designs and buildings.”

Trestle Glen’s additional green features include:
• Play structures and surfaces are made of more than 20% recycled materials.
• The building features side-by-side trash and recycling chutes, plus a built-in recycling bin in each home.
• The insulation in the roof and walls of Trestle Glen contains no added formaldehyde.
• Trestle Glen's bathroom fans and kitchen fans exhaust to the exterior.
• All interior paints are low-VOC.
• All cabinetry has reduced formaldehyde content.
• The carpets in the homes and common areas are certified CRI Green Label Plus.
• Solar hot water panels located on the roof pre-heat the domestic hot water.
• A high efficiency gas-powered boiler heats the domestic hot water.
• All appliances have met the Energy Star criteria for energy efficiency.
• Almost all of the plant species are California native or Mediterranean species that require only occasional watering.
• Trestle Glen uses a landscape irrigation controller that receives weather data via a satellite connection and a high-efficiency drip irrigation system.
• Nearly all rain is captured and treated onsite. Rain that falls on the roof drains to large bio-swales, which naturally filter and percolate rainwater into the stormwater system.
• Showerheads are low flow and sinks have flow limiters.
• Toilets have half and full flush buttons to better economize water usage.
• The building is located adjacent to the Colma BART Station and a number of SamTrans bus lines.
• Secure bicycle parking is available within the garage.

About Build It Green
GreenPoint Rated is a program of Build It Green, a professional non-profit membership organization whose mission is to promote healthy, energy- and resource-efficient buildings in California. A GreenPoint Rated home is graded on five categories: energy efficiency, indoor air quality, resource conservation and water conservation. Green building offers homebuilders, community leaders and California residents sensible solutions that improve an individual home’s performance and provide broad-based community benefits. These benefits range from cleaner air to reduced traffic congestion, from more appealing recreational opportunities to greater economic vitality. Developments designed to reduce dependence on cars help ease traffic congestion, which can improve business productivity. For more information, visit www.builditgreen.org.

About BRIDGE Housing
BRIDGE Housing Corporation, the leading nonprofit developer of affordable homes in California, creates and manages a range of high-quality, affordable homes for working families and seniors. Since it was founded in 1983, BRIDGE has participated in the development of over 13,000 homes serving more than 35,000 Californians. For more information, visit www.bridgehousing.com.

About KTGY Group
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.

KTGY Principal Mike Flynn to Participate as Moderator and Panelist at ICSC’s Global Retail Real Estate Convention in Las Vegas
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Building Green Panel: “What Has Worked, What Hasn’t Worked, and Where Do We Go From Here?” Held on May 24th at 2:30 p.m.

IRVINE, CALIF. - Award-winning KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, is pleased to announce that Mike Flynn, a principal and LEED AP, has been invited to participate as the moderator and panelist at the International Council of Shopping Centers’ (ICSC) annual RECON, The Global Retail Real Estate Convention held from May 23-25, 2010, in Las Vegas, NV. Flynn’s panel, which will be presented on Monday, May 24, at 2:30 p.m., will focus on green building and is entitled, “Corporate Retailer to Boutique Retailer – What Has Worked, What Hasn’t Worked, and Where Do We Go From Here?”

Panelists for the session will also include: Paul Loubet, president of Dreyfus Real Estate; Barry Giles, CEO and LEED facility emeritus for Building Wise, LLC; and Doug Wiele, a founding partner of Foothill Partners, Inc. “Our session will discuss the goals and reasons for sustainable building, the risks, how we measure sustainability, and the design approaches and systems that have proved to be cost effective sustainable solutions,” says Flynn. “We will also discuss why retail has historically lagged behind the corporate office market in adopting sustainability as an important building and design component and how future green legislation can impact retailers.”

According to Pacific Gas & Electric’s Food Service Technology Center (FSTC), Restaurants are the retail world’s largest energy user. They use almost five times more energy per square foot than any other type of commercial building. “Electrical utilities are likely to increase peak demand rates, and to expand incentive programs for owners who have energy-efficient facilities,” notes Flynn.

“Many people think that only new buildings can be green but there is quite a lot that can be done to improve an existing building’s or shopping center’s energy efficiency without incurring a major expense, whether LEED certification is desired or not. However, if you’re building today without LEED, you’re building in obsolescence. Companies need to be very smart about how they go green so that the money as well as energy is used efficiently,” Flynn says.

With 40 years of experience, Flynn serves as a leader guiding the design and implementation of a wide variety of high profile commercial, mixed-use, retail, entertainment and resort projects throughout the United States and overseas. Keeping him in the forefront of the industry is his notable understanding and comprehensive experience with the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building and the Build-it-Green rating programs, including the latest products and cutting-edge technologies in sustainability/green building practices. Flynn’s proficient management skills and background provide KTGY and its clientele superb quality in design and final product. Prior to joining KTGY, Flynn served as senior vice president/director of commercial, retail and entertainment projects for a national firm with 1,600 employees in the United States.

Flynn is a licensed architect in the following states: California, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Virginia. He holds a National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) Certificate and is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certified Professional. He is also a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Urban Land Institute (ULI) and U.S. Green Building Council. Flynn received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo.

About ICSC
Founded in 1957, the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) is the global trade association of the shopping center industry. Its 60,000 members in the U.S., Canada and more than 80 other countries include shopping center owners, developers, managers, marketing specialists, investors, lenders, retailers and other professionals as well as academics and public officials. As the global industry trade association, ICSC links with more than 25 national and regional shopping center councils throughout the world. Visit www.icsc.org for more information.

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.

KTGY-Designed New LEED Silver Candidate, Transit-Oriented Apartment Community Celebrates Grand Opening in Anaheim
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SARES-REGIS debuts The Crossing, adjacent to Metrolink Anaheim Canyon Station

IRVINE, CALIF. - Designed by KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, The Crossing celebrated the completion of a new luxury, transit-oriented apartment community in Anaheim, Calif., with a Grand Opening ceremony on April 22, 2010. Developed by SARES-REGIS Group, the largest privately-held developer of green apartment units in Southern California, The Crossing provides amenity-rich, pet and eco-friendly living adjacent the Metrolink Anaheim Canyon Station, close to employment, shopping, dining and entertainment, and easy access to 91, 55, 57, 22 and 5 freeways.

Located at 3530 E. La Palma Avenue in Anaheim, near N. Tustin Avenue, The Crossing is a modern, urban, infill apartment community consisting of 312 well-appointed lofts, one- and two-bedroom apartment homes (some with dens) and 39 live/ work units. There are 11 floor plans with the units ranging in size from 639 square feet to 1,421 square feet. Rent runs from $1,320 to approximately $2,165 per month.

“This is an exciting location – especially for commuters as The Crossing is situated next to the Metrolink/Amtrak station with convenient access to all the area’s major freeways and shopping, dining, entertainment and employment,” said David Senden, a principal with KTGY and lead designer on the project. “Built on a 5.2-acre site, which previously housed a warehouse building, this new development will spur the area’s conversion to quality residential.”

The Crossing features contemporary, urban architecture, resort-style amenities and upscale residences that attract career professionals, entrepreneurs and empty nesters with upscale urban preferences. “The Crossings’ bold profile avoids the typical monolithic look by using smaller animating elements, courtyard orientations and active corners to ensure an inviting human scale,” Senden said. “The sociable amenities enhance two boundaries, while a marquis presence defines the principal entrance. All of the apartments incorporate raised ceilings, expansive windows, high-end appointments and energy-efficiencies, and are focused on themed courtyards to orient them away from traffic, freeway and rail.”

The Crossing has been designed and built as an environmentally-friendly, smoke-free residential community promoting healthy living and sustainable practices. It is also a candidate for LEED Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and provides a definitive national standard for what constitutes a “green building.” The project utilizes existing infrastructure and includes: dedicated parking for 120+ bicycles and preferred parking for fuel efficient vehicles; employs cool roof technology to reduce the heat island effect; maximizes open space; and captures storm water runoff. In-unit measures further promote a beneficial green prototype for attached housing.

Other green features include: Broan SmartSense ventilation systems to improve air circulation, high-grade energy efficient windows, water-saving fixtures including high-efficiency dual flush toilets, energy-saving compact fluorescent lights, low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) paint, adhesives and carpet, carpets made from 100% post-recycled content (recycled plastic bottles) and a community recycling program. There are also separate chutes for recyclables.

According to Senden, SARES-REGIS achieved a 94 percent landfill diversion rate during demolition and a 75 percent recycling rate during construction. “In a region dominated by the automobile and consumption of our natural resources, this environmentally-friendly development is a positive alternative that responds to a new demographic that is energy conscious but still demands resort-style living and rich amenities, near mass transit, employment, shopping and entertainment,” Senden added.

Residents don’t have to spend money on a gym membership as The Crossing has a health club quality fitness center with strength-training equipment, free weights, cardio stations with personal TV screens and a yoga studio. There is a sparkling pool and spa, spacious clubhouse with fireplace and catering kitchen, game room with tabletop shuffleboard and card gaming table, and a media screening room. The Crossing also has a business center featuring a conference table, computers, Internet access and printer/fax/scanner/copier. Free Wi-Fi is available in the common area locations. There are themed courtyards with outdoor seating areas and barbecues, and a sport court for basketball enthusiasts.

The well-planned apartment homes feature tall ceilings, expansive picture windows, large, open creative spaces, gourmet-style open kitchen with contemporary hardwood cabinets and flooring, stainless steel sinks with pullout spray faucet, stainless steel gas ranges and built-in microwaves, ENERGY STAR® dishwashers and refrigerators with ice makers, floor-to-ceiling pantries, convenient kitchen islands, and granite slab countertops. The bedrooms offer spacious walk-in closets and mirrored wardrobe doors. Each unit includes ENERGY STAR® full-size front load HE washers and dryers, a private patio or balcony with French doors, enclosed storage space, central air conditioning and heating, dimmable lighting and motion sensors.

The leasing office for The Crossing is located at 3530 E. La Palma Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92806. For more information, call 877.719.4818 or visit www.thecrossinganaheim.com.

About SARES-REGIS Group
SARES-REGIS Group is one of the leading developers and managers of commercial and residential real estate in the western United States. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., the company’s Multifamily Property Management Division manages 16,180 rental apartments in California, Colorado and Arizona. Sixty percent of the division’s portfolio is third-party management. Currently, the company has more than 4 million square feet of commercial industrial in the entitlement process and 1,962 residential units in pre-construction and development. SARES-REGIS Group has a combined portfolio of property and fee-based assets under management valued at more than $4 billion, including 15 million square feet of commercial and industrial space. Since its inception the company has acquired or developed approximately 44 million square feet of commercial properties and 19,000 multifamily and residential housing units. Visit www.sares-regis.com.

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.