The Decatur Housing Authority (DHA) was honored to receive the Development of Excellence Award from the Atlanta Regional Commission for the Oliver House at Allen Wilson, a community of 80 senior apartments developed by DHA. To grasp the importance of this award, it is essential to understand the context of the development, site, design and community efforts that made this award-winning community possible.
Allen Wilson Terrace was a 200-unit public housing community built in 1941 in a historically African-American community. Due to serious design deficiencies and the obsolescence of its utility systems, in 2005, DHA and the residents determined that the community required revitalization. The housing authority and its strategic partners, including the city of Decatur, undertook to develop new, market-quality units that would transform the former row housing into a community of change and hope.
With exceptional proximity to downtown Decatur, it was essential to capitalize on the immediate access to public transportation and employment, shopping, restaurants and churches, as well as, parks, recreation and cultural facilities. The site is within two blocks of Decatur’s thriving downtown government, business and retail district, including a MARTA station.
Decatur embraced affordable housing in the core of the city as DHA, the Allen Wilson residents and larger community established and then met four key goals: retaining 191 of the 200 original units, minimizing off-site relocation to only 40 volunteer families (with a right to return), accommodating the growing senior population with 80 designated homes, and developing an exceptionally energy-efficient community with access to Decatur’s amenities.
Oliver House includes state-of-the-art energy and water conservation features, including a photovoltaic solar power array, geothermal heating/cooling in common areas, hybrid geothermal water heating, rainwater harvesting for toilet operation and landscape irrigation, low-water-use fixtures (toilets, showerheads and faucets), Energy Star appliances, efficient HVAC units, three-quarters of an acre of permanent greenspace and connections to a half-mile of paved walking trails. In recognition of its energy efficiency, Oliver House was awarded 2012 Earthcraft Multifamily development of the year by Southface and Greater Atlanta Home Builders.
Seniors enjoy a roof garden terrace, equipped fitness center, craft/card room, computer room, sun/media rooms, conference rooms, full kitchen and a catalogued library. Adjacent to the covered porch/patio seating area, residents grow vegetables and flowers in raised gardens.
Allen Wilson is a superior project in many ways. It is affordable housing easily accessible to needed services, excellent educational prospects and employment opportunities. Low-income families are able to remain within the small-town-yet-urban community of Decatur, and benefit from an exceptional quality of life.
Oliver House at Allen Wilson is sustainable, affordable housing that incorporates the principles of smart growth, transit-oriented development, new urbanism, green building, walkability, unique financing and community building. It is remarkable what we accomplish when we work as a community to serve the needs of others.
