Palm Springs To Build First Affordable Housing In 12 Years

PALM SPRINGS, CA —The city of Palm Springs, along with an organization dedicated to developing integrated housing and a local architectural firm, have unveiled plans for Palm Springs' first affordable housing development in 12 years. The project -called the Monarch Apartment Homes - will feature 14 buildings and a total of 60 units of affordable housing, according to officials.

The apartment homes, which are expected to cost $31 million, will sit on a currently vacant 3.62-acre parcel at the Southeast corner of N. Indian Canyon and San Rafael Drive in the Upper Westside One Palm Springs neighborhood.

Fairfield-based Community Housing Opportunities Corporation (CHOC) is the project developer and the homes will be designed by Interactive Design Corporation (IDC), a firm known for its focus on creating sustainable projects that address important social values.

"The Monarch Apartment Homes will provide critically needed affordable housing units for Palm Springs," said Palm Springs Mayor Christy Holstege in a statement. "Just as important as the availability of affordable housing, is the fact that the rents at the Monarch Apartments will remain affordable for at least 55 years. This will allow generations of families to establish themselves in the community without having to worry about housing security or paying large portions of their income towards rent. We're very proud of what the Monarch Apartment Homes will bring to the City of Palm Springs."

According to a release, the design of the buildings centers on contemporary mid-century modern architectural style, similar to the homes in the adjacent neighborhoods

The property will feature a tree-lined thoroughfare to create a pedestrian plaza, and each structure will be topped with a sloping roofline mimicking the wings of the Monarch butterfly.

All apartment homes will have patios or balconies. There will be a community building with a computer classroom, rental office and a community lounge adjacent to a kitchen that can be used for group functions. The complex will feature a dog park, splash pad, children's play area and two barbecue areas.

"The design of this complex demonstrates that high design and affordable housing can work hand in hand," said Maria Song, a partner with IDC. "We've incorporated mid-century design elements that weave the interaction of place, people and community together, thus knitting it into the overall city itself as a thriving neighborhood for the working families who need affordable housing."

Sustainability also was a key consideration in the creation of this property, officials said. The property will have efficient windows and appliances, reflective surfaces and cool roofs that reflect about 76 percent of the sunray away from the building for added sustainability.

All indoor and outdoor systems will be electric, and there is an opportunity for a solar panel system, according to designers. IDC is expected to submit The Monarch Apartment Homes for a GreenPoint Rated verification.

According to a release, the project is expected to break ground in early 2022.