Fetters Hot Springs affordable housing wins Top Projects award

Fetters Hot Springs Affordable Housing

CATEGORY: Multiple Family - Affordable

COST: $27.5 million

CONTRACTOR:Wright Contracting, Inc.

ARCHITECT: Christiani Johnson Architects and Jon Warden Architects

FINANCING: Through the Sonoma County Community Development Commission and Sonoma Housing Authority; California Tax Credit Allocation Commission; Federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Housing Program; Citi Community Capital and the Wells Fargo Community Lending and Investment program

COMPLETED: Last week of December 2016

SONOMA — Located in the heart of Sonoma Valley, Fetters Apartments will provide 60 hardworking, low-income families with affordable rental housing at 17310 Sonoma Hwy. (Highway 12).

Fetters is the first phase of a planned neighborhood hub that will include intergenerational affordable units, shopping and commercial space, as well as a community garden, bicycle and pedestrian trails, a retrofitted shared-use playground for nearby Sonoma Charter School students and residents, along with other community-wide improvements.

The Central Sonoma Valley Bikeway extension will connect the hub to two public elementary schools, two public parks and the broader Fetters Hot Springs and Sonoma communities.

Developer Mid-Pen Housing Corporation says the hub is a prime example of infill development that addresses the need for affordable living spaces in one of the most expensive housing markets in the nation. In June 2015, Mid-Pen obtained permit approvals and closed the financing necessary for the first phase.

Construction began in the summer of 2015 and will be completed at the end of this year, ready to welcome new residents in 2017. The first phase of development includes backbone infrastructure — the playground, public trail, and Highway 12 frontage beautification. This phase also includes the commercial center with 6,400 square feet of leasable space to be completed by the Vailetti Family Trust and 20 affordable units. Phase two, including 40 affordable rental apartments for seniors and the community garden, will begin construction in 2017.

Fetters Apartments is a Green Certified community with features such as drought-tolerant landscaping, energy-efficient lighting and appliances, low-VOC paints, and photovoltaic panels. Onsite amenities include a community room with kitchen, computer lab, laundry facilities, and an After School Program classroom.

The 57,589-square-foot building on 2.96 acres has 19 one-bedroom, 22 two-bedroom and 19 three-bedroom apartments.

Rent ranges from $360 to $1,115 available for families earning up to 60 percent of the Area Median Income. Fetters received more than 600 applications for its 60 units, demonstrating the need for affordable housing in the region.

Residents will receive onsite support provided by Mid-Pen Housing Corporation Resident Services. In addition, program partnerships with Fetters Hot Springs service, education and health care providers (including La Luz Center, Teen Services Sonoma, Sonoma Valley Community Health Center, Sonoma Charter School, among others) will be available to support Hub occupants.

Services include academically-based summer and after school programs; financial literacy courses; vocational development, health and wellness programs; computer lab and assistance and connection to community resources.

Fetters Hot Springs Affordable Housing

CATEGORY: Multiple Family - Affordable

COST: $27.5 million

CONTRACTOR:Wright Contracting, Inc.

ARCHITECT: Christiani Johnson Architects and Jon Warden Architects

FINANCING: Through the Sonoma County Community Development Commission and Sonoma Housing Authority; California Tax Credit Allocation Commission; Federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Housing Program; Citi Community Capital and the Wells Fargo Community Lending and Investment program

COMPLETED: Last week of December 2016

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