Renovating to the Highest Sustainable, Accessible, and Affordable Standards
Riverside Cottages Affordable Housing Renovation
Sustainable Affordable Housing Renovations
Jamestown, ND | 2023 - Present
Development Partner: Stride Development
Construction Partner: Frerichs Construction
Project Budget: $48 million
150 total units (1BR / 2BR / 3BR) with rent and income restrictions at 30%, 40%, 50%, and 60% of area median income
Sustainability Certification: On track to achieve Enterprise Green Communities certification
The Gardenette housing complex has provided stable and relatively attainable housing for Jamestown for half a century. However, due to the quality of the existing units and the rental experience, this development has steadily had approximately 30% vacancy even as the rest of Jamestown and the state as a whole face a severe housing supply shortage. Additionally, the existing conditions of the site create a range of challenges preventing most units from having accessible routes or entry points, and the site layout also currently prioritizes car ownership for even basic tasks.
Now reborn as the Riverside Cottages, this updated development aims to improve the occupant experience through highly sustainable and accessible renovations of the existing housing units. New rooftop photovoltaic arrays greatly improve the self-sufficiency and resiliency of the development while also greatly reducing energy costs for residents in a time of ever-escalating cost of living challenges.
With each existing building sharing the same layout of four equally sized one-bedroom apartments, the updated development carefully and thoughtfully reworks the existing layouts into new combinations that allow for two- and three-bedroom apartments as well, all while reusing as much of the existing interior layout as feasible in order to minimize material waste and keep the project as financially efficient as possible. All housing units will now be highly accessible, with a portion of the housing units upgraded to follow universal design standards.
The building envelopes and systems are also being overhauled as well to improve not only energy efficiency, but also occupant comfort in the colder climate. The exterior envelopes have been retrofitted to include much thicker insulation and airtight detailing around all openings, and highly efficient mini-split heat pump HVAC and water heating equipment have been installed as well, resulting in significant reductions in energy usage.
The renovation phases are currently on schedule to complete by the end of 2026. Phased construction was carefully implemented for the benefit of both project financing and to minimize disruptions to current residents, many of whom have mobility or health challenges that may require specialized medical equipment in their living spaces. Many current residents have begun moving into the newly renovated units as they’ve become available, with early feedback showing exceptional improvements to comfort and quality of life even after a short period. Our team is particularly proud of the feedback we’ve received in the heart of North Dakota winter, as both residents and contractors have excitedly mentioned how incredibly warm and comfortable the renovated units are even on the coldest days.