Patriot Place in St. Augustine Certified ‘Florida Green’ by Florida Green Building Coalition

Patriot Place in St. Augustine Certified ‘Florida Green’ by Florida Green Building Coalition

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla.  – St. Johns Housing Partnership (SJHP), a nonprofit that develops affordable housing, announced that Patriot Place has earned Gold Certification under the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) Homes Standard.

“We are excited to be part of this important project. Homes for transitional veterans, built on a beautiful infill lot with an incredible live oak for them to sit and relax under,” noted FGBC President Bill Kachman. “To be involved with this project means so much knowing that Patriot Place will be able to house an at-risk or homeless veteran - after everything they have done for our country.”

Patriot Place comprises six new, low-income residences to address St. Johns County’s critical need for housing for at-risk and homeless veterans. Residents began moving in at the end of 2023.

Green building practices were utilized throughout the construction process to address FGBC criteria such as energy performance; water conservation; site conservation; health, air quality and moisture, materials, and disaster mitigation.

“Patriot Place is a good example of what can be done when the public and private sectors come together. I want to congratulate all the partners, donors and supporters that made Patriot Place a reality for an at-risk segment of our community, Affordable housing must be sustainable over time both in terms of actual affordability and debt service along with building performance and long-term maintenance” added SJHP Executive Director Bill Lazar,

Founded in 1996, the SJHP has helped expand housing options for the greater community, not just to benefit veterans. To achieve that, the group brings together public and private sectors including investors on projects that create low- and moderate-income housing, rebuild neglected homes and revitalize neighborhoods in disadvantaged areas.

The project is a collaboration between MountainStar Partners, a real estate investor and developer, SJHP and St. Johns County. The total cost of Patriot Place was $1million, including infrastructure improvements. MountainStar Partners committed over $500,000 for land acquisition and construction costs. Patriot Place marks the first time that a density credit exchange for low-income housing was created and housing delivered to the community.

Patriot Place was built by Robert Marshall of World Island Builders and designed by Architect Bryan McCloskey. Financial partner Ameris Bank financed the construction.

Patriot Place took five years to complete, including finding and purchasing the lot, securing financing for construction, permitting and zoning. The one-bedroom apartments are 630 square feet each and veterans will pay about 30 percent of the market rate with the balance subsidized through the partnership with Flagler CareConnect.

Patriot Place residents will be managed by the UF/ Flagler Health+ social health program UF/Care Connect+ which links area residents with resources like safe housing, food pantries, counseling services, workplace readiness and transportation.

Former St. Johns County Development Services Director Suzanne Konchan conceived the original idea for Patriot Place and St. Johns County Commissioners Roy Alaimo and Henry Dean helped Patriot Place become reality.

The Northeast Florida Association of Realtors, Bo Strange with Lovely Loo and the Snodgrass Family Foundation donated additional funds, time, and materials.

Other contributors and supporters included, The Home Depot Store # 6334, Eagle Scout Michael Korfhage and Boy Scout Troup 243, University of Florida IFAS Master Gardeners and FGBC certifying agents Kachman and Ralph Locke, both military veterans, who waived their fee and volunteered their time. The entire Solar panel systems was donated by Everybody Solar, JinkoSolar and Synergy Solar.

FGBC is the state’s leading certifier of green projects. The FGBC Certification Program tailors’ carbon-reducing, green building standards to the Florida climate, allowing builders, developers, and communities to meet green building standards while simultaneously constructing sustainable properties best suited for Florida’s ecosystem.

Going Green? In Florida you have a choice. Contact the Florida Green Building Coalition at عنوان البريد الإلكتروني هذا محمي من روبوتات السبام. يجب عليك تفعيل الجافاسكربت لرؤيته., visit www.floridagreenbuilding.org or call (407) 777-4914.

 

 

New Affordable Project from Housing Partnership to be FGBC Certified

New Affordable Project from Housing Partnership to be FGBC Certified

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla.  (October 24, 2019) – The St. Johns Housing Partnership has announced that new, affordable rental homes in the Nation’s Oldest City will be certified “Florida Green” by the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC).
 
“Not only do these new residences at 87 Evergreen Ave. feature below-market rent, they will be certified green through the Florida Green Building Coalition, meaning a lower cost of living each month going forward,” said FGBC Board Member Mary Tappouni.
 
In 2000 FGBC brought together industry professionals from the construction, government, academic and research communities to create green standards tailored specifically to Florida.
 
The new building will include two apartments — each a three-bedroom one-bath residence with the rent ending up somewhere around $900 per month.  A price point is almost unheard of in a housing market where the average 2-bedroom rental goes for north of $1,000 monthly.  
 
SJHP Executive Director Bill Lazar said that he is “very excited” with the start of the partnership’s first new rental project.
 
“Lisa Drudi of SJHP has been working hard on this and it’s finally coming out of the ground,” Lazar said. “Many working middle-class families cannot afford to reside in St. Augustine, even if they are employed here. This project is a major step towards alleviating this problem.”
  
Lazar noted that twenty-five percent of workers commute to St Johns County for their jobs, traveling from Putnam County or Duval County.  This scenario hurts — because these workers, including police officers, firefighters, schoolteachers and others, are taking money out of the local economy only to spend it where they live.
 
“Thanks to Ameris Bank for providing financing that will allow us to build at least a dozen units over the next 12-months,” Lazar said, pointing out that this is one of the first truly, verifiable, affordable housing rentals built in St Johns County in almost 15 years.
 
The St. Johns Housing Partnership promotes safe, decent and affordable housing by creating links between the public and private sectors on projects that create low- and moderate-income housing, rebuild neglected homes and neighborhoods, thus benefiting disadvantaged areas and enhancing community economic and social development.
 
FGBC’s five certifications provide pathways to build green homes, developments, local governments, high rises and commercial buildings. FGBC is by far the largest certifier of green homes, communities and local governments in Florida. 
 
National standards like USGBC LEED and Green Globes also move contractors and owners towards environmentally friendly building. “Florida Green” standards take a scientific approach and are developed with state-specific criteria. They address Florida’s hot-humid environment, distinctive topography, unique geology, resiliency and natural disasters.
 
For more information on the St. Johns Housing Partnership visit www.sjhp.org or call (904) 824-0902.
 
Going Green? In Florida you have a choice. Contact the Florida Green Building Coalition at (407) 777-4914, or email عنوان البريد الإلكتروني هذا محمي من روبوتات السبام. يجب عليك تفعيل الجافاسكربت لرؤيته. or visit www.floridagreenbuilding.org.