Case Study

Vital Stats Location: White Center Star Level: 3-Star Checklist: Communities Section Points Site Design 294 Planning and Education 99 Construction Operations 61 Total Score 454

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King County Housing Authority
Greenbridge Community, White Center

Greenbridge is a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Hope IV redevelopment project in unincorporated King County between White Center and Burien. A model for affordable housing, the community will ultimately consist of 1,000 homes for approximately 3,500 people. In 2007, one of the community's first homes was Built Green's 10,000th certified home, and the community also features a Built Green certified YWCA learning center. Minimizing pavement, designing for maximum population, and provision of a diversity of housing types all contributed to making the development dynamic and community focused. Inclusion of rain gardens, soil amendments and preservation of open spaces ensured the ecological integrity of the site. Committing to certify each of the residences as Built Green 3-Star or better ensured that low income families have access to healthy, energy efficient green housing, Beyond the innovative site design, community amenities and Built Green residences, one of the most striking elements of the community are the over 50 public art installations that are integrated into the downspouts, benches and playground equipment. What King County Housing Authority ultimately created with Greenbridge is one of the nations marquis green, affordable housing projects.

Site Design

• Redevelopment and restoration of an existing affordable housing community
• Extensive community amenities provided such as YWCA Learning Center and King County Library
• Minimization of pavement in street design
• Designed to avoid impact on sensitive areas
• Designed multiple infiltration systems and used natural drainage for surface water runoff
• Amended soils to 10-12 inch depth
• Designed site with a diversity of housing types and for maximum population density
• Designed as a mixed use community with live-work spaces
• Homes clustered on the site to encourage biodiversity
• Connected community with a system of walking paths
• Provision of alleys for rear garage access
• Installed low water use grass type and mulched landscape beds
• Used low toxic outdoor landscaping lumber and recycled content site accessories
• Provided extensive community common areas accessible to all residents
• Developed transportation management plan including two on-site transportation shelters

Planning and Education

• Conducted integrated design charettes with stakeholders
• Made community art a feature of the site with over 50 art installations
• Required shared parking and designed to minimum parking standards
• Inclusion of pedestrian friendly design amenities and walking paths
• Created a community handbook to provide to residents
• Provided educational events to community residents as well as building teams
• Created an operations and maintenance plan for common areas

Construction Operations

• Committed to certifying all buildings in the community at 3-Star level
• Preserved and protected sensitive areas and trees during construction
• Limited site disturbance to less than 40% of the site at a time
• Protected adjacent sites from adverse effects of runoff
• Did not clear or grade during wet weather months
• Retained all native topsoil and re-used on site
• Used extensive erosion control plan during development

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Photos courtesy of Greenbridge Community- King County Housing Authority