The judges’ message was clear:
”
Kudos to any group that does both affordable and green
housing.
”
Morgan Hill – The judges’ message was clear: “Kudos to any group that does both affordable and green housing.”
With those words, Gilroy-based South County Housing Corp. earned recognition in this year’s Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce Sustainable Quality awards program.
“It’s great recognition,” said Jan Lindenthal, director of development and construction for the non-profit group. “It keeps fueling the fire … like getting a shot in the arm to keep doing what we’re doing.”
Since 1979, South County Housing has developed more than 2,000 units of affordable housing in Silicon Valley and central coast regions for people looking for a leg up. Additionally, the agency strives to cultivate leadership skills of residents so that they may advocate on their own behalf for their long-term needs. Now the group is going the extra mile to add environmentally friendly construction features wherever possible while still focussing on affordability.
“We feel we’re doing some pretty cutting-edge things,” Lindenthal said. “The homes we build will have added benefits to the community.”
The group’s latest accomplishment-in-the-works is Madrone Plaza, a 95-single-family-home development under construction in north Morgan Hill. When finished, the one-to-three-bedroom homes will feature energy-efficient windows, a re-circulated hot-water system, drought-resistant landscaping, picnic tables and benches made from recycled materials and Energy Star appliances.
On top of it all will sit a power-saving “cool roof” built to keep summer rays at bay.
The organization – which has already developed more than 300 units of affordable housing in Morgan Hill – is in the beginning stages of accepting applications to purchase Madrone Plaza homes. Units will be priced for qualified buyers mostly from $270,000 to $550,000. Additional subsidies may apply. Construction will begin in July and the first homes will be completed in spring 2008.
Lindenthal said meetings about the homes will be held at 6pm on May 23 and May 30 at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center, 17000 Monterey Road.
The chamber began the Sustainable Quality awards in 2006 to honor businesses and organizations that excel in the following areas: Stewardship to the environment, social responsibility and economic sustainability.
Only one winner is picked each year, but additional businesses are honored as runners up.
This year’s overall winner is Morgan Hill-based Specialized Bicycle Components.
“The actions of these future-thinking and extraordinary businesses and organizations sustain our high quality of life,” wrote Dan Ehrler, director of the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce, in an e-mail. “The chamber wishes to honor these leaders and encourage others via the Sustainable Quality Awards.”
Ehrler further commended South County Housing for providing desperately needed housing services, training residents to be leaders and taking initiative to develop a green building plan.
The chamber announced winners in the Sustainable Quality awards at the city’s Earth Day celebration April 22 at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center.
