KTGY Architecture + Planning Continues a California Legacy of Clean Lines, Elegant Proportions
IRVINE, Calif. – International award-winning firm KTGY Architecture + Planning is proud to announce its participation in the first affordable housing communities for low-income families in Irvine’s master planned community of Great Park Neighborhoods, which celebrated its grand opening on October 27, 2017. Luminaira was developed by FivePoint Holdings, LLC, Related California and RCC Charitable (Riverside Charitable Corporation). Espaira was developed by FivePoint, Related, and ETHIC Housing Trust (El Toro Housing Initiative Collaboration). FivePoint’s partnership (Heritage Fields, LLC) is the master developer of Great Park Neighborhoods.
Designed by KTGY, Luminaira and Espaira communities offer a total of 166 affordable apartment homes for low-income families along with a 4,000-square-foot leasing and social services center, complete with kitchen, media lounge, computer center, mailroom and play area. Other amenities include pool, barbeque and picnic pavilion, and dog run. On-site services include after-school programs and educational classes.
Award-winning Solaira at Pavilion Park, which celebrated its grand opening in November 2015, was the first affordable-housing community for seniors in the Great Park Neighborhoods – and the first to open in Irvine in 20 years. Solaira, a 221-unit senior apartment community, is LEED Gold certified and was a collaboration between FivePoint, Related and RCC Charitable. KTGY was the design architect for all three communities — Solaira, Luminaira and Espaira.
Espaira, Great Park Neighborhoods, Irvine, Calif. Credit: KTGY Architecture + Planning
According to KTGY Principal David Obitz, the design of Luminaira at Parasol Park and Espaira at Parasol Park was inspired by the architecture of Irving Gill and boasts clean lines and a neutral color palette, welcoming residents and guests with arched entries that establish a sense of arrival. The stacked-flats feature tuck-under garages to maximize outdoor space and community areas as well as provide additional parking for guests. There is also electrical vehicle parking.
“The primary goal of the architecture was to create a sustainable neighborhood that is indistinguishable from market-rate housing and seamlessly integrated into the master plan community,” said Obitz. “The design is modern and continues a California legacy of simple, clean lines and an efficient structure with elegant proportions. The well-appointed apartment homes have nine-foot ceilings, which is similar to market-rate homes but not typically found in affordable apartments.”
According to Obitz, these communities will provide exceptional sustainable living at below-market rental rates and offer families access to schools in the award-winning Irvine Unified School District, community services, shopping and entertainment. Luminaira and Espaira are conveniently located to the 133, 241, 5 and 405 freeways, transportation and employers.
Both communities offer spacious two- and three-bedroom floor plans ranging in size from approximately 809 – 1,129 square feet. Each apartment home features a fully-equipped gourmet kitchen with Energy Star refrigerator and dishwasher, solid-surface countertops, hardwood plank-style flooring, ceiling fans, large closets, some paid utilities, and outdoor private space. The apartments also come with a one-car garage.
Obitz reports that both apartment communities have been designed to achieve a Gold certification level in the GreenPoint Rated system administered by Build It Green, a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote healthy, energy and resource efficient buildings in California.
“FivePoint and Related are known for their high-quality living environments and Luminaira at Parasol Park and Espaira at Parasol Park will be a tremendous asset to the City of Irvine and the families that live here,” said Obitz. “Luminaira and Espaira will offer families a beautifully-designed, environmentally-friendly residence with great amenities and a variety of available social services to enhance their daily lives.”
About FivePoint
FivePoint, headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California, designs and develops mixed-use, master-planned communities in coastal California. FivePoint is developing vibrant and sustainable communities in Orange County, Los Angeles County, and San Francisco County that will offer homes, commercial, retail, educational, and recreational elements as well as civic areas, parks, and open spaces. FivePoint’s three communities are: Great Park Neighborhoods® in Irvine, Newhall Ranch® near Valencia, and The San Francisco Shipyard/Candlestick Point in the City of San Francisco. The communities are planned to include approximately 40,000 residential homes and approximately 21 million square feet of commercial space. For additional information, visit www.fivepoint.com.
About Related California
Related California, the West Coast affiliate of Related Companies, is a fully integrated real estate firm that develops multifamily residential and mixed-use properties in California.
Since 1989, Related California has undertaken a range of transformational developments from best in class luxury high rise residential properties to the redevelopment of obsolete public housing, spanning a broad spectrum of urban infill, affordable, mixed-income and market rate multi-family developments. The company has a development portfolio of over 14,000 residential units completed or under construction, and more than 2,500 affordable and 4,500 market rate units in pre-development.
Related California has a long history of community partnership, having collaborated with more than 35 municipalities and over 25 non-profit organizations throughout California, and has successfully developed and managed a broad range of property types throughout Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco and Santa Clara counties. Related California has developed more than $5 billion in assets and has a track record of consistently developing communities that exceed industry benchmarks in design, construction, sustainability and property management. For more information about Related California, visit www.relatedcalifornia.com.
About Riverside Charitable Corporation
For 25 years, Riverside Charitable Corporation (RCC) has been a provider of affordable housing and charitable services that includes professional social and educational programs for families and the elderly. To date, RCC has helped 123 affordable communities throughout California. Their homes are created using combinations of bond financing, low-income housing tax credits and a variety of government resources. www.riversidecharitable.org
About ETHIC Housing
ETHIC (El Toro Housing Initiative Collaboration) was established by a coalition of social service agencies to help provide affordable housing on the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro land for extremely low-income families. It includes Orange County Community Housing Corporation, American Riding Club for the Handicapped, SBC Community Homeless Coalition.
About Great Park Neighborhoods
Great Park Neighborhoods is a master-planned community located adjacent to the Orange County Great Park in the heart of Orange County, California, in the City of Irvine. The multi-generation neighborhoods include a variety of residential choices with features that encourage neighborhoods to connect with each other and with nature. Great Park Neighborhoods is ultimately envisioned to include an innovative blend of “main street” retail, office, commercial and educational uses. Walking and biking trails are incorporated into the neighborhoods and will connect to open space, future neighborhoods, the Orange County Great Park and to the larger Irvine and Orange County Bikeway systems. www.greatparkneighborhoods.com
About KTGY Architecture + Planning
Established in 1991, KTGY Architecture + Planning is an international award-winning full-service architecture and planning firm delivering innovation, artistry and attention to detail across multiple offices and studios, ensuring that clients and communities get the best the firm has to offer no matter the building type or location. KTGY’s architects and planners combine big picture opportunities, leading-edge sustainable practices and impeccable design standards to help create developments of enduring value. KTGY serves clients worldwide from offices located in Chicago, Denver, Irvine, Los Angeles, Oakland, Pune and Tysons. Visit www.ktgy.com
