St. Augustine’s Patriot Place wins gold by Florida Green Building Coalition
Florida’s Green Building Coalition (FGBC) awarded St. Augustine's Patriot Place, a housing community for at-risk veterans, a gold certification under the Coalition’s Homes Standard.
Located at 79 Masters Drive, the six-unit apartment community offers one-bedroom apartments to veterans at 30% of the market value, with the balance subsidized by the St. Johns Housing Partnership (SJHP). In addition to safe, clean, and affordable housing, veterans can work with UF Health St. Johns social health programs and UF Health St. Johns Care Connect+ for resources inclusive of food pantries, counseling, workplace readiness and transportation.
The green building practices addressed FGBC’s criteria of energy performance; water conservation; site conservation; health, air quality and moisture materials; and disaster mitigation.
As Florida’s leading certifier of green projects, FGBC’s Certification Program tailors its carbon-reducing green building standards to the state’s climate, allowing builders, developers, and communities to meet green building standards while building properties suited to sustain Florida’s ecosystem.
Bill Lazar, SJHP’s executive director, described Patriot Place as an example of what happens when the public and private sectors work together.
“I congratulate the partners, donors and supporters that made Patriot Place a reality for an at-risk segment of our community,” he said in a press release. “Affordable housing must be sustainable in terms of affordability and debt along with building performance and long-term maintenance.”
Bill Kachman, FGBC’s president, noted the homes are built on a "beautiful infill lot with an incredible live oak for them to sit and relax under.”
“To be involved means so much knowing that Patriot Place will house at-risk or homeless veterans, — after everything they’ve done for our country.”
Founded in 1996, the SJHP provides low- to moderate-income housing solutions by working with the public and private sectors to rebuild neglected homes and revitalize neighborhoods in disadvantaged areas.
Touting a million-dollar price tag, Patriot Place became a reality through MountainStar Partners, SJHP, and St. Johns County. MountainStar Partners committed over $500,000 for the land acquisition and construction costs. Bryan McCloskey served as the architect with construction completed by Robert Marshall of World Island Builders.
The news released underscored that Patriot Place was the first density credit exchange for low-income housing. Ameris Bank financed the construction.
Additional funds, materials and time were provided by The Northeast Florida Association of Realtors; Bo Strange, owner of Lovely Loo; the Snodgrass Family Foundation; The Home Depot Store # 6334; Eagle Scout Michael Korfhage; Boy Scout Troup 243; the University of Florida IFAS Master Gardeners; and FGBC certifying agents Kachman and Ralph Locke, military veterans who waived their fee and volunteered their time. Everybody Solar, JinkoSolar and Synergy Solar donated the solar panels.
The concept for Patriot Place was conceived by Suzanne Konchan, the county’s former Development Services director. County Commissioners Roy Alaimo and Henry Dean helped Patriot Place become reality.
This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: St. Augustine’s Patriot Place honored by Florida Green Building Coalition
