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(l-r) MJHS Chief Operating Officer Mo Funk; MJHS Chief Executive Officer |
Douglas Gardens North, an affordable senior living community sponsored by Miami Jewish Health Systems, broke ground April 27 for new low-income senior housing at its campus in Pembroke Pines, Fla. The four-story 75-unit independent living apartment building is being constructed through a $10.5 million grant received last year from the U.S. Department Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The grant was one of only two awards allocated in Florida last year via HUD’s Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program, which provides capital for the development of affordable housing. Two previous senior level apartments have been constructed at Douglas Gardens North through HUD 202 grants – a four-story 94-unit mid-rise in 2006 and a four-story 52-unit mid-rise in 2008.
“Providing low income housing is important to our mission of serving the community, enhancing lives and helping seniors age peacefully with dignity,” said Jeff Freimark, Chief Executive Officer of Miami Jewish Health Systems. “Our commitment to providing quality standards of residential living, and solid record of responsibility and efficiency in handling grant money, likely played an important role in the allocation of the most recent grant,” he said.
The Douglas Gardens North funding is among the last grants that will be issued through the HUD 202 program, which is being phased out this year, despite critical shortages of affordable homes for low-income seniors. Douglas Gardens North alone has 500 seniors on its waiting list, and the number of people statewide in need of assistance has grown in recent years.
The new building, which should be available for occupancy by mid-2012, will be constructed under the principles of Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED), an internationally recognized green building certification system that employs strategies to improve environmental performance.
“While it won’t be the first and only green HUD building in the Southeast, it will be one of the prototype buildings for HUD, and we’re exceptionally proud of that,” said Fred Katzin, Chairman of the Board of Douglas Gardens North.
The new facility will provide a healthy and comfortable indoor environment for residents through use of sustainable products and low-emitting materials. The mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems will further reduce the facility’s energy and water consumption through automated comfort and energy controls.Randy Holmes, Director of Douglas Gardens Senior Housing, noted that architects will use natural light and larger windows in individual apartments, and energy efficient lighting in hallways. Externally, irrigation will be provided from recycled rainwater recaptured from the property’s lake.
“The initial cost of LEED certification will pay off over the lifecycle of the building, saving dollars in the long run for Douglas Gardens North,” he said.
The new facility will offer multiple uses for both for residents and the community. It will have a hurricane shelter with a generator that serves residents of all three Douglas Gardens North buildings, and a common area where functions and meetings can be held for the general public. A larger kitchen has been designed so that hot meals can be prepared on site in a catastrophic situation.
“Miami Jewish Health Systems has worked hard to streamline operational efficiency and achieve economies of scale in purchasing and sourcing,” said Holmes. “We reach for the highest standards as economically as possible so we can be the best possible stewards of federal dollars,” he said.
Douglas Gardens North chose the architectural firm, C.C. Hodgson Architectural Group, a federally qualified minority-owned firm which exclusively focuses on senior living in four key areas, including affordable housing. Other project team members include Beauchamp Construction; Independent Commissioning Consulting, LLC; JPH & Associates; Flynn Engineering Services; Architectural Alliance; Green Building Services; ONM&J Structural Engineers and Steven Feller, PE, MEP Engineer.
For helping make the project possible, Miami Jewish Health Systems also expressed appreciation to John Benton from the Miami HUD office, Pembroke Pines Mayor Frank Ortis, Broward County Mayor Sue Gunzberger, and the city council for its partnership and support.
“As Miami Jewish Health Systems celebrates its 70th year, we continue to help people of all ages, cultures and religious preferences enjoy longer, healthier and more enriched lives by providing leading-edge care and independence-enhancing services,” said Freimark. “The new Douglas Gardens North expansion is entirely consistent with our mission and is complimentary to what we do and what we are about,” he said.
