MillTown complex expands city's housing options
SANDPOINT — Starting in August, local affordable housing options are set to expand dramatically.
The opening for the MillTown complex located just off North Boyer north of Super 1 is imminent, thanks in part to a $1 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Applications opened Monday, while the buildings themselves will be open and ready for tenants on Aug. 3.
The new residential units received a proper debut Wednesday afternoon when Tammye Trevino, USDA administrator for rural housing services appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in 2009, visited the facility for a ribbon cutting and a tour. Trevino is interested in the structure as a potential blueprint for future affordable housing developments.
“We’re always looking for best-practice approaches to hold up as a model for the rest of the nation,” she said.
The structure’s primary draw to the USDA is its innovative approach to sustainable energy and efficiency. According to Whitewater Creek representatives, the buildings are the first in the Pacific Northwest to be constructed to Platinum LEED certification. Beyond simple efficiency standards, the buildings employ advanced geothermal and solar panel technology for heating and cooling systems. Project architects estimate that the considerations could save tenants up to 80 percent of their standard energy bill.
“We’re quite anxious to see the numbers on the energy consumption versus energy generation,” Trevino said.
In fact, the buildings are already generating electricity with its green energy considerations, and the electricity meter is moving backward. By generating electricity and flowing it back into the power grid, the development receives credit from Avista Utilities, which is then deducted from the overall bill.
Those intriguing approaches paid off for Whitewater Creek when it came to securing capital for the project. Developers applied for a USDA Rural Housing Super Green-LEED Platinum loan. After being evaluated on a point-based system by USDA officials, the project scored the second highest in country, earning developers the $1 million loan.
According to City Planner Jeremy Grimm, the MillTown complex is also the first commercial development to comply with new zoning regulations. That means the units constructed as townhouses will be eligible for sale to individual owners. Ten percent of the units are will be market rate, while others are affordable housing units with rent rates fluctuating based on income.
The new apartments range from one to three bedrooms, while townhouses range from two to three bedrooms. Ponderosa Apartments is handling application processes and approval for low-income candidates.
Information: 920-1241