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2023 affordable housing roundup: 20+ multifamily projects

Affordable Housing

2023 affordable housing roundup: 20+ multifamily projects

With the cost of living rising every year, there's never been a greater need for affordable housing. Here are 22 projects dedicated to providing affordable living.


By Quinn Purcell, Managing Editor | February 15, 2023
Affordable housing project roundup
Lucille and Bruce Terwilliger Place, Arlington, Va. Photo © James Oesch Photography

In our latest call for entries, Building Design+Construction collected over 20 multifamily projects with a focus on affordable housing. From mixed-use communities to Passive House design, these developments wowed us in more ways than one.

Here is a comprehensive list of all projects in alphabetical order. For a deeper dive into each, click on the hyperlinks within and see what makes these projects special.

43 Green

Chicago, Ill.
 

Aerial view of the 43 Green Phase II residential building
Aerial view of the 43 Green Phase II residential building. Image courtesy The Habitat Company

43 Green is the first equitable transit-oriented development (ETOD) on Chicago's South Side. Read more about this project in:



87th & Western

Los Angeles, Calif.
 

87th & Western site is an abandoned bank property-turned affordable housing development.
The 87th & Western site is an abandoned bank property-turned affordable housing development. Rendering courtesy GGLO Design

87th & Western Apartments is a proposed 160-unit, mixed-use, affordable housing development that will be built along Western Avenue in the Westmont neighborhood of Los Angeles. Read more about this project in:



330 Distel Circle

Los Altos, Calif.
 

Distel Circle’s 90-unit development concept, lobby entrance view. Rendering courtesy KTGY
Distel Circle’s 90-unit development concept, lobby entrance view. Rendering courtesy KTGY

Distel Circle will deliver the first 100% affordable housing project in Los Altos, Calif., for individuals and families earning 30-80% of the area’s median income. Read more about this project in:



425 Grand Concourse

Bronx, N.Y.
 

Multifamily exterior pergola
Grand Concourse is PHIUS-certified, and will consume up to 70% less energy than conventional housing projects. Photo © Albert Vecerka/Esto, courtesy REHAU

425 Grand Concourse, located in the Bronx, N.Y., is the largest Passive House project in North America to date. Read more about this project in:



508 Pershing at Oakwood Shores

Chicago, Ill. 
 

508 Pershing mixed-use community exterior
508 Pershing at Oakwood Shores, a 53-unit mixed-use affordable housing development in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood. Photo © Nia Architects, courtesy Taylor Johnson

508 Pershing is a mixed-use, mixed-income building that is part of the larger Oakwood Shores revitalization plan. Read more about this project in:



683 Thwaites Place

Bronx, N.Y.
 

683 Thwaites Place affordable housing development by RKTB Architects
Thwaites Place incorporates rooftop solar panels and a high-performance thermal envelope as strategies for reducing energy costs. Photo © John Bartelstone, courtesy RKTB Architects

683 Thwaites Place is a for-profit development featuring 36 high-quality affordable apartments, street-level retail, and community spaces. Read more about this project in:



Atlantis Apartments

Denver, Colo.
 

Exterior community on street corner
RATIO Design displays its “innovative, animated” architecture for Atlantis Apartments. Photo © David Lauer Photography Inc, courtesy RATIO Design

Atlantis Apartments provides 60 units and has been configured to be one of the most accessible buildings in the country. Read more about this project in:



    Bronx Point

    Bronx, N.Y.
     

    Exterior rendering of the Universal Hip-Hop Museum at Bronx Point.
    Exterior view of the Universal Hip-Hop Museum at Bronx Point. Rendering courtesy L+M Development

    Bronx Point is a 530,000-sf mixed-use development that will bring 542 units of permanently affordable housing, retail, and engaging open space to South Bronx. Read more about this project in:



    Canal Commons

    Bend, Ore.
     

    The Canal Commons community spans 44,525 sf with unobstructed views of the Cascade Mountains. Rendering courtesy LRS Architects
    The Canal Commons community spans 44,525 sf with unobstructed views of the Cascade Mountains. Rendering courtesy LRS Architects

    Canal Commons is a 44,525-sf multifamily development located in Bend, Ore., that proves affordability doesn’t have to compromise sustainability. Read more about this project in:



    Castle Argyle Hollywood

    Hollywood, Calif.
     

    Interior renovation of Castle Argyle
    Period Hollywood Regency colors and design elements were conscientiously integrated into the total renovation by Relativity Architects. Photo © Tom Bonner, courtesy Relativity Architects

    Castle Argyle is a historic art deco “castle” revived as low-income housing for seniors. Built in 1928, this luxury hotel/apartment building was created to attract silent-film stars. Read more about this project in:



    Common Melrose

    Los Angeles, Calif.
     

    Exterior view of co-living development Common Melrose in Los Angeles
    Though not a typical “affordable” project, Common Melrose is made affordable for tenants through its co-living model. Photo courtesy Bittoni Architects

    Common Melrose is a residential duplex in the heart of Los Angeles, Calif., that offers a novel co-living model. Read more about this project in:



    DESC Burien

    Burien, Wash.
     

    Render of affordable development for veterans and behavioral needs
    At DESC Burien, onsite managers will be present 24/7 to help aid in tenants’ needs. Render courtesy Dominium

    DESC Burien is a new affordable housing development being built in the Seattle, Wash., area for residents dealing with mental illness and substance use disorders. Read more about this project in:



    Fifth & Dinwiddie West

    Pittsburgh, Pa.
     

    5th and Dinwiddie
    Located at a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stop, Fifth & Dinwiddie connects residents to downtown and Oakland, and to their neighbors in Uptown and the Hill District. Rendering courtesy GBBN

    Fifth & Dinwiddie West is slated to be a 190,000-sf mixed-use, mixed-income development in Pittsburgh, Pa., that is already pre-certified PHIUS. Read more about this project in:



    H3C

    New Orleans, La.
     

    12,000 square foot housing community aerial view
    H3C includes 12,600 sf of commercial and community spaces, providing residents with high-quality, affordable health care services. Photo © Impetus, courtesy Plotlines

    H3C is a 210,000-sf, 192-unit affordable housing and healthcare development under construction in Central City New Orleans, La. Read more about this project in:



    Harrison Row Townhomes

    Chicago, Ill.
     

    Structured Development's Harrison Row Townhomes modular project exterior
    Structured Development | Harrison Row Townhomes phase two exteriors. Photo courtesy Coldwell Banker/Annette Shelton

    Harrison Row Townhomes is a 40-unit modular housing community in Chicago, Ill., for households earning up to 120% of the area’s median income. Read more about this project in:



    Hilltop at Signal Hills

    West St. Paul, Minn.
     

    Luxury affordable multifamily development courtyard
    At Hilltop at Signal Hills, residents have multiple outdoor amenities including: a community pool, fire pit, playground, plenty of yard space and an enclosed section for dogs. Photo courtesy BKV Group

    Hilltop at Signal Hills provides 393 units designed to provide a living experience on par with luxury buildings in the market. Read more about this project in:



    HUB 32 at Lake & Kedzie

    Chicago, Ill.
     

    Render of multifamily mixed-use community with unique quilt-like architectural design
    HUB 32 was entered as a design proposal for Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development (DPD) mixed-use redevelopment plan. Rendering courtesy Brooks + Scarpa

    HUB 32 is a proposed 63 unit mixed-use project in the Garfield Park neighborhood of Chicago, Ill., with its design inspired by the concept of quilting and stitching. Read more about this project in:



    Lucille and Bruce Terwilliger Place

    Arlington, Va.
     

    multifamily development James Oesch Photography
    Affordable housing does not need to look affordable, utilizing high quality finishes creates an upscale feel, giving the building’s residents pride in their homes. Photo © James Oesch Photography, courtesy DCS Design

    Lucille and Bruce Terwilliger Place was born out of a need to support at-risk veterans and community members in Arlington, Va. Read more about this project in:



    The Rollins

    Millbrae, Calif.
     

    Mixed-use multifamily street view rendering
    The Rollins provides close proximity to office, hospitality, retail, and restaurant spaces. Rendering © Studio T, courtesy Blach Construction

    The Rollins provides 80 affordable units dedicated for veterans with Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers. Read more about this project in:



    The Row

    Chicago, Ill.
     

    Top floor suite of multifamily development in Chicago
    On floors 42 and 43, The Row will offer six premium penthouse residences that feature panoramic vistas, 12-foot ceilings, expansive private terraces, and chef-inspired eat-in kitchens. Rendering courtesy Related Midwest

    The Row Fulton Market is one of Chicago’s first 80/20 buildings—setting aside 20% of its residences as affordable housing. Read more about this project in:



    Willkommen

    Cincinnati, Ohio
     

    historic affordable housing building in Cincinnati, Ohio
    Willkommen on Republic uses its large glass lobby, stairs, and stoops to connect residents to their neighbors. Photo © Ryan Kurtz, courtesy GBBN Architects

    Willkommen is the largest addition of affordable housing in Cincinnati’s historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, distributed across 11 historic renovations and three new buildings. Read more about this project in:



    Wynne Watts Commons

    Gresham, Ore.
     

    Wynne Watts development
    The Wynne Watts Commons’ courtyard features several benches and resting places, a bike locker room, rubberized pads, and other play features accessible to all residents. Photo © Josh Partee. Photo courtesy Pence Construction

    Wynne Watts Commons marries accessibility and sustainability in a 97,000-sf shell, and is the largest Net Zero Energy affordable housing project in the Pacific Northwest. Read more about this project in:

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