After some delays related to a failed funding attempt by a previous building contractor, affordable housing for the Solage Resort workforce got underway early last week.

About a dozen people — from planning commissioners to the mayor and officials from Calistoga Affordable Housing (CAH) — broke out the shovels on Monday to break ground for a 24-unit rental community that will push up out of the ground on Brannan Street over the next year. The project will provide housing for a variety of income levels, with future tenants qualifying for the units with as little as $20,000 a year in income or as high as $65,000.

“This moment when construction may begin is really very exciting for nonprofit developers because it signals the successful completion of assembling multiple subsidies and financing for the development,” said Erica Roetman Sklar, executive director of CAH.

CAH solicited public and private funding sources. Major funding included a contribution of land by Solage Calistoga Resort, a state-approved loan for $3.2 million, which will be administered through the City of Calistoga, and the sale of tax credits that CAH was able to receive based on the long term affordability of the units; all totaling more than $6 million.  

Additionally, CAH and Burbank Housing spent considerable effort refining the design of the community with state-of-the-art energy efficient features and making sure units will be easily adapted to any future tenant with a physical disability whether due to age or injury, Sklar said.

For example, gable roofs will have decorative cupolas, asphalt composition shingles and solar panels. Windows will have dual pane glazing with low-energy glass. Baths and kitchens will feature energy efficient lighting, appliances and forced exhaust ventilation to the outside.

Lighting fixtures will be provided to all bedrooms and hallways. The buildings will exceed Title 24 energy standards by 10 to 15 percent and provide solar generated electricity to community spaces.

Additionally, water conservation is a key element of the Solage project. Landscape irrigation will use reclaimed water from the City’s tertiary treatment plan, similar to the irrigation systems located at the public schools, parks and municipal facilities in Calistoga. Baths and kitchens will also feature low-flow faucet restrictors.

On-site water drainage is designed to flow into a bioswale, a type of modified roadside ditch, that runs the length of the property.

The construction will be completed in about 10 months, or around February 2009.

The residences, except for the manager’s unit, will be affordable to households earning below 60 percent of area median income (AMI) with 33 percent of the units at 40 percent AMI, 25 percent of the units at 50 percent AMI and 38 percent of the units at 60 percent AMI. The manager’s unit will be income restricted at 80 percent AMI.

Potential residents include those working full time at low wage jobs, such as staff employed in the hotel and spa industry or the wine industry. To qualify at 60 percent of AMI, a household of two wage earners can earn just over minimum wage.

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