ROEM and HASLO Break Ground on New KTGY-designed Affordable Community South Street Family Apartments

Forty-three new, sustainable apartment homes for workforce families in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIF. – March 25, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — ROEM Corporation, in partnership with HASLO (Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo) celebrated the groundbreaking of South Street Family Apartments, 43 new, sustainable apartment homes for workforce families in the city of San Luis Obispo, Calif.

“HASLO is very pleased to be part of this very complex public-private partnership that addresses the Central Coast’s workforce housing need,” Scott Smith, Executive Director of HASLO. “The result is a permanent affordable housing resource available to the San Luis Obispo community. The affordability and location close to jobs are ideal. Reduced job commutes will enhance quality of life, and affordable rents will enable family investment in other essentials like education, healthcare and quality childcare. We look forward to seeing hundreds of lives flourish at the South Street Apartments community.”

Designed by national award-winning architecture and planning firm KTGY Group, Inc., South Street Family Apartments will offer 43 affordable apartment homes, including one manager’s unit, and will be available to families with annual incomes at or below 60% of the San Luis Obispo County Area Median Income (AMI). South Street Family Apartments will feature one, two and three bedroom rental homes with unit sizes ranging from approximately 570 square feet to 1,010 square feet.

“The City of San Luis Obispo is proud to be a supportive partner in this much needed 100% affordable housing development. We recognize the significant shortage of affordable housing in our community and look forward to the completion and addition of these apartments to our housing inventory,” said City Councilman Dan Carpenter who was on the City Council when the development was approved in 2011. “Many families will benefit from this joint venture between ROEM and HASLO, and we look forward to future collaborative efforts that will contribute to our ongoing housing goals. Congratulations to all.”

Located on a 1.53-acre urban infill site in downtown San Luis Obispo at 309 South Street, the $14.1 million development will provide a sustainable community for its residents while enhancing the existing neighborhood. The building’s contemporary mix of urban-industrial and craftsman-style architectures will complement the South Street corridor location, not far from downtown. Amenities will include a community room with a kitchen, a laundry facility, a homework center, a courtyard area with a barbecue, an outdoor playground, and bike storage room for residents.

South Street Family Apartments will be constructed using sustainable building methods and will incorporate a number of ‘green’ features designed to ensure its long-term energy-efficiency and sustainability. Along with complying with CALGreen Building Codes, South Street Family Apartments will pursue USGBC’s LEED-H Gold certification, by incorporating the following:

• Installing Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Systems;
• Appropriately using water through water efficient irrigation systems and drought-tolerant landscaping, installing water saving flow restrictors and high efficiency fixtures;
• Utilizing natural ventilation, low VOC paints and sealants, and CRI Green-label low-VOC carpeting, pads and adhesives; and
• Installing Energy Star appliances and very high-energy efficient fixtures and fittings.

“ROEM is proud to partner with the Housing authority of San Luis Obispo (HASLO) and the City of San Luis Obispo to celebrate the groundbreaking of South Street Family Apartments,” said Robert Emami, President of ROEM Corporation. “This development has been several years in the making and thanks to our wonderful financing partners and strong local support we will soon complete beautiful new apartment homes for local working families.”

South Street Family Apartments is financed with 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits with financial support from the City of San Luis Obispo, Citi Community Capital, and AEGON Group. The architect is KTGY Group Inc. and the general contractor ROEM Builders, Inc. Construction duration is tentatively set for 15 months. Estimated construction completion is spring 2016.

“We’re excited to see this project kick off and we’re proud to be part of this initiative,” said Jay Abeywardena, Director of Citi Community. “This transaction will play a pivotal role in helping expand affordable housing in the City of San Luis Obispo.”

The project has received financial support from a variety of sources. The Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo has provided $1,080,000 in project funds. The City and the County of San Luis Obispo have provided a combined total of $1,286,708 in federal funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Construction financing will come primarily from Citibank. Permanent financing will be supported by tax credit financing and loans from Citibank.

“AEGON is excited to play a part in providing 43 critically needed new housing units to the residents of San Luis Obispo,” said Gary Howe, Director of AEGON USA Realty Advisors. “We would like to congratulate all of the partners involved in this development for their efforts in making this project a reality, including ROEM Development Corporation and the Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo, as well as the County of San Luis Obispo, the City of San Luis Obispo and Citi Community Capital.”
Howe added, “This marks AEGON’s eighth investment with ROEM Development and we are confident South Street Family Apartments will be as tremendously successful as the previous seven. San Luis Obispo is already a desirable community for residents and visitors; South Street Family Apartments will help to keep it accessible to those struggling to find housing in an extremely competitive market.”

“Our goal is to reshape public perception of affordable housing,” said KTGY Principal Keith Labus, AIA, LEED AP. “ROEM is known for their high quality affordable communities and South Street Family Apartments will be a tremendous asset to the City of San Luis Obispo.”

About the City of San Luis Obispo – Housing
The City of San Luis Obispo’s mission is to ensure that San Luis Obispo continues to be a healthy, safe, attractive, and enjoyable place to live, work, or visit. The City recognizes its role in promoting a variety of housing types to meet the needs of the community. The City’s affordable rental housing programs are targeted to low- or very low-income households. Affordable ownership housing are targeted to moderate-income households. Visit www.slocity.org for more information.

About HASLO

HASLO (Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo) assists 3,000 families every month with affordable housing throughout San Luis Obispo County.  Formed in 1968, its mission is to provide affordable housing and programs that lead to self-sufficiency for all of its clients.  HASLO owns and operates affordable housing directly, as well as through public-private partnerships collaborating with non-profit organizations, private landlords, employers and private developers.  HASLO is ranked as a “higher performer” by HUD, and in 2014 was one of 19 organizations nationally that received an Award of Excellence from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials.

About ROEM Corporation

ROEM Development Corporation, ROEM Builders, Inc. and its affiliated entities are a full-service development and construction organization that has specialized in the acquisition, planning, financing, new construction, renovation, and asset management of market-rate and affordable housing throughout California for over 30 years. As a model developer and proven industry leader of mixed-use, transportation-oriented, and urban-infill multi-family communities, ROEM maintains its commitment to providing top quality housing through its collaborative in-house approach and unwavering aspiration for professional excellence.

Ranked in the Affordable Housing Finance Top 50 National Developer’s list, and a registered member of USGBC and Build It Green, ROEM is dedicated to creating wholesome communities that are not only sustainable, but are designed smarter to ensure that residents are healthier, happier, and safer.

ROEM has completed over 4,000 units with 1,400 units currently under construction and several hundred additional units scheduled to break ground by the end of 2015. Visit www.ROEMcorp.com for more information.

About KTGY Group, Inc.

Celebrating more than 23 years, KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, is a national award-winning firm providing comprehensive planning and award-winning architectural design services for residential communities, retail, hospitality, mixed-use and related specialty developments. KTGY delivers innovative solutions that reflect clear understanding of development, market and consumer trends, and financial performance. KTGY serves clients worldwide from offices in Denver, Irvine, Los Angeles, Oakland, Pune and Tysons. See www.KTGY.com.