Undergraduate Category: Degree Level: Abstract ID#
Undergraduate Category: Humanities and Arts Degree Level: Bachelor of Science in Architecture Abstract ID# 1109
Urban Affordable Housing,
PROTOTYPE IN CHARLESTOWN
Creating a long term sustainable model for urban environments
Jamaica Reese-Julien
ABSTRACT
As Boston’s population continues to rapidly increase, its ability to maintain affordable housing is threatened. Due to the high cost of construction and building, few new housing opportunities are created for its’ low-income residents. At the same time, many of Boston’s public housing developments are being redeveloped into privately owned mixed- income developments, further reducing the available number of deeply affordable units in the city. Through the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, the federal government subsidizes privately owned units for qualifying individuals. This, along with adding additional pressure to a highly inflated housing market, is an unsustainable long term plan. My project explores design possibilities for an affordable urban housing prototype, for low-income residents in Boston. It focuses on energy sustainability, and well designed flexible space for future uses. Long term use design planning and sustainable building elements create a cost savings in upkeep and maintenance, which becomes crucial in funding affordable housing, not only during construction, but for the buildings’ entire lifespan. While typically low-income housing is viewed as a different typological form and does not contain commercial uses, the re-integration of mixed-uses and rentable, income generating spaces makes it a productive member of the urban environment. Using carefully aggregated and efficiently designed units, my project maximizes its site possibilities. RESEARCH
National Gap in Extremely Low-Income Housing
3%1%
47%
%
59%
3.3 M 3%1%
47% 59%
16% 19%
Creating affordable housing and specifically housing for our cities low-income population is crucial to creating diverse urban communities. My project seeks to create a sustainable prototype that can expand the housing opportunities for many residents who are being pushed out by the rise of urban living costs.
11.5 M
3.3 M 47%
8.2 M
59%
11.5 M 3.3 M
8.2 M
11.5 M
8.2 M
24% 26%
5%
There are currently 11 million renter households that spend more than half their monthly income on rent. Due to the high cost of development and construction, few new affordable housing opportunities are being created
5%Percentage Spent on Housing Average in Boston
Average annual rent rent is 29,900 Average annual is 29,900
58,325
Average income Average annualannual income is is 58,325
==
51% 51%
Average annual rent is
29,900
Average annual income is 58,325
=
Development Costs Site Costs
$9
Land Acquisition
$9
$41
$41
$9
$41
19
17
$19 $17
Developer Fee $159
$274$159
per sqFinancing ft Costs
$274 $29
per sq ft
Soft Costs
$19 $17
Construction Costs
$274
$159
51% STUDIO UNIT
2 BEDROOM UNIT
390 SQ FT.
622 SQ FT.
3 BEDROOM UNIT 1,100 SQ FT.
Floor 5
Floor 6
We need a solution that addresses not only the development costs of housing, but also the building’s lifespan costs. Keeping the building’s long term costs low, maintains the affordability of the units, following their construction. The portion of development cost that is rising at the fastest rate, is land acquisition. Many cities have areas and parcels of land, which currently sit vacant. Cities and governments are already funding tax credit programs to create affordable housing, but it is more efficient and impactful it they instead supply the land for the project.
per sq ft
$29
$29 LANDSCAPE DESIGN
Building Energy Costs
SOLAR
CIRCULATION
After construction, maintenance and energy costs are extremely expensive. Designing a sustainable building, that is energy efficient, spatially efficient, and flexible in future use is crucial to keeping long term costs low.
Air Conditioning
3%1%
Water Heating
16% 19%
47% 59%
Appliances, Electronics, Lighting
RENT-ABLE SPACE
Space Heating
3.3 M
11.5 M
8.2 M
24% 26% 5%
REFERENCES Greater Boston Housing Report Card, 2015 Housing a Changing City, Boston 2030 Household Energy Use in Massachusetts: A closer look at residential energy consumption.
Average annual rent is
29,900
Average annual income is 58,325
=
51%
3 BEDROOM UNITS
2 BEDROOM UNITS
1 BEDROOM UNITS
PARKING
Urban Affordable Housing,
PROTOTYPE IN CHARLESTOWN
Creating a long term sustainable model for urban environments
Jamaica Reese-Julien
ABSTRACT
As Boston’s population continues to rapidly increase, its ability to maintain affordable housing is threatened. Due to the high cost of construction and building, few new housing opportunities are created for its’ low-income residents. At the same time, many of Boston’s public housing developments are being redeveloped into privately owned mixed- income developments, further reducing the available number of deeply affordable units in the city. Through the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, the federal government subsidizes privately owned units for qualifying individuals. This, along with adding additional pressure to a highly inflated housing market, is an unsustainable long term plan. My project explores design possibilities for an affordable urban housing prototype, for low-income residents in Boston. It focuses on energy sustainability, and well designed flexible space for future uses. Long term use design planning and sustainable building elements create a cost savings in upkeep and maintenance, which becomes crucial in funding affordable housing, not only during construction, but for the buildings’ entire lifespan. While typically low-income housing is viewed as a different typological form and does not contain commercial uses, the re-integration of mixed-uses and rentable, income generating spaces makes it a productive member of the urban environment. Using carefully aggregated and efficiently designed units, my project maximizes its site possibilities. RESEARCH
National Gap in Extremely Low-Income Housing
3%1%
47%
%
59%
3.3 M 3%1%
47% 59%
16% 19%
Creating affordable housing and specifically housing for our cities low-income population is crucial to creating diverse urban communities. My project seeks to create a sustainable prototype that can expand the housing opportunities for many residents who are being pushed out by the rise of urban living costs.
11.5 M
3.3 M 47%
8.2 M
59%
11.5 M 3.3 M
8.2 M
11.5 M
8.2 M
24% 26%
5%
There are currently 11 million renter households that spend more than half their monthly income on rent. Due to the high cost of development and construction, few new affordable housing opportunities are being created
5%Percentage Spent on Housing Average in Boston
Average annual rent rent is 29,900 Average annual is 29,900
58,325
Average income Average annualannual income is is 58,325
==
51% 51%
Average annual rent is
29,900
Average annual income is 58,325
=
Development Costs Site Costs
$9
Land Acquisition
$9
$41
$41
$9
$41
19
17
$19 $17
Developer Fee $159
$274$159
per sqFinancing ft Costs
$274 $29
per sq ft
Soft Costs
$19 $17
Construction Costs
$274
$159
51% STUDIO UNIT
2 BEDROOM UNIT
390 SQ FT.
622 SQ FT.
3 BEDROOM UNIT 1,100 SQ FT.
Floor 5
Floor 6
We need a solution that addresses not only the development costs of housing, but also the building’s lifespan costs. Keeping the building’s long term costs low, maintains the affordability of the units, following their construction. The portion of development cost that is rising at the fastest rate, is land acquisition. Many cities have areas and parcels of land, which currently sit vacant. Cities and governments are already funding tax credit programs to create affordable housing, but it is more efficient and impactful it they instead supply the land for the project.
per sq ft
$29
$29 LANDSCAPE DESIGN
Building Energy Costs
SOLAR
CIRCULATION
After construction, maintenance and energy costs are extremely expensive. Designing a sustainable building, that is energy efficient, spatially efficient, and flexible in future use is crucial to keeping long term costs low.
Air Conditioning
3%1%
Water Heating
16% 19%
47% 59%
Appliances, Electronics, Lighting
RENT-ABLE SPACE
Space Heating
3.3 M
11.5 M
8.2 M
24% 26% 5%
REFERENCES Greater Boston Housing Report Card, 2015 Housing a Changing City, Boston 2030 Household Energy Use in Massachusetts: A closer look at residential energy consumption.
Average annual rent is
29,900
Average annual income is 58,325
=
51%
3 BEDROOM UNITS
2 BEDROOM UNITS
1 BEDROOM UNITS
PARKING
