Location: 333 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma
Owner: USA Properties Fund, Inc.
Developer and project manager: USA Multifamily Developers, Inc.
Real estate representation: Campus Property Group
Property management: USA Multifamily Management, Inc.
Design: architecture -- Kuchman Architects PC; interior -- CDG Corporate Design Group; landscape -- Deering Design
Engineering: civil -- Civil Design Group and Cinquini & Passarino; electrical -- Uplight Electrical Engineer; mechanical -- Alexander Sheflo & Associates; soils -- Krazan & Associates; structural -- Harris & Sloane Structural EngineeringContractors and suppliers: general -- USA Construction Management; concrete -- CVC Commercial; electrical -- Bowman Electric; framing -- Madera Framing; HVAC -- Beutier Mechanical, McClellan; landscaping -- North Bay Landscape Management; mechanical and plumbing -- RDR Plumbing & Mechanical; roofing -- Petersen Dean, Inc.; carports -- Rubicon; painting -- Empire Painting; cabinets -- Master Brand Cabinets; flooring -- Dave’s Design Center; countertops -- Custom Design Countertops; model unit furniture -- Brooks Furniture Rental
Energy consultant: ConSol
Photography: Keith Sutter Photography
Cost: $16 million
PETALUMA -- Vintage Chateau II, featuring 68 affordable housing units in a community designed for seniors 55 and older on low or fixed incomes, was opened for occupancy in September.
The apartment complex is located at 325 N. McDowell Blvd., adjacent to the existing 240-unit Vintage Chateau I property built on a 8.05-acre parcel at 333 McDowell Blvd., which opened in 2000.
This site is ideally situated on a bus route, near shopping and parks as well as close to municipal and senior services, such as the Petaluma Peoples Services Center.
Both properties were built, owned and managed by Roseville-based USA Properties Fund, Inc. (usapropfund.com), a privately-owned firm that has developed, acquired or rehabilitated more than 11,000 units in 72 California and Nevada communities since its founding in 1981 by J. B. Brown.
“What distinguishes us from other developers is that we are committed to each property for the long term,” said Art May, senior vice president of USA Properties Fund. “We don’t just build and flip these communities in a few years.”
The company value-engineers each project for the future with an eye toward sustainability and cost effectiveness.
Evidence of this can be seen in the choice of building materials that can stand the test of time -- concrete roofing tiles, Hardy plank siding, drought tolerant, native plant landscaping, energy-efficient appliances, etc.
The $16 million Vintage Chateau II was funded using the 4 percent federal tax credits and tax-exempt bond financing through bond issuer Association of Bay Area Governments Finance Authority.
When these tax credits were awarded, USA Properties approached Boston Capital, Citi Community Capital and the city of Petaluma, creating a private-public partnership that purchased these credits for 10 years.
Construction for Vintage Chateau II began on August 4, 2011, and received certificates of occupancy received in August 2012. USA Multi-Family Management, Inc., manages day-to-day operations of the property.
The project includes 54 one-bedroom, one-bath units with 593 square feet of living space. There are also 13 two-bedroom, two-bath units with 750 square feet of floor space plus one apartment for a property manager. Tenants need to meet certain income qualifications.
Apartment amenities include pantry cabinets, a dishwasher, garbage disposal, refrigerator/freezer, range oven with hood, energy-efficient and individually controlled heating and air conditioning, as well as wall-to-wall carpeting.
Vintage Chateau II also offers a furnished 2,458 square foot clubhouse with a great room, kitchen, covered patio, 24-hour onsite management and a fitness center.
Other design features include laundry facilities, central mail kiosk, elevator access to each floor and planned social activities such as game nights, lectures and potlucks. Restaurants, markets, movies and other retailers are within walking distance and transportation is easily accessible.
Residents can also take advantage of the pool, spa and gazebo available in the Phase I area with a kitchen, recreation room/lounge and dance floor.
Vintage Chateau II was constructed according to Build It Green standards. Project Architect Kuchman Architects, PC of Sacramento and USA Properties Fund are certified Green Building Professionals within the Build it Green program.
“To qualify for Build It Green certification you need to meet at least 50 points on the criteria list. Our projects have scored between 115 and 120 points,” Mr. May said.
Vintage Chateau II exceeds Title 24 energy efficiency requirements by 15 percent. Some 65 percent of job site construction waste was recycled.
Interior and exterior lighting fixtures are energy efficient. Water saving and low-flow devices are used in kitchens and baths. All appliances are Energy Star rated, and carpeting and pads are CRI green-labeled. Natural gas is used for cooking, heating and water heating, and ceiling fans are installed in bedrooms and living rooms.
This nonsmoking senior complex was built using jobsite stormwater pollution prevention plans, and includes an engineered water-management filtering system.
USA Properties Fund has also partnered with LifeSTEPS, a non-profit organization offering life skills training, after school programs, educational resources and scholarships and other supportive services to residents at no additional cost.
Services include confidential case management and mediation along with language, computer and parenting classes. There are social and health-related activities for children and adults, such as on-site flu shots, Health Days, and information sessions on Medicare and MediCaid issues, etc.
