High-tech companies moving into Reno, Nev., have boosted job growth and made it one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. But it has also caused housing and rental prices to double in the past several years, affecting seniors on limited fixed incomes.
To help meet that need, Vintage Housing and Greenstreet Cos. partnered on the 230-unit Vintage at the Crossings development for seniors 55 and older who earn 60% or less of the area median income. According to developers, this is the first large-scale affordable senior housing community to be built in northern Nevada in 15 years, and it had over 1,000 people on the interest list during construction.
Humphreys and Partners Architects designed the development and its amenities to cater to the senior residents, including those with disabilities. All of the units are either ADA and Fair Housing Act compliant or adaptable, with three large elevators, wide hallways, and roll-in showers designed to allow aging in place.
The four-story building features a gathering room with a community kitchen and dining area, a fitness facility, a computer center, an arts and crafts room, a cinema room, a library, and a private event space that residents can use for family gatherings. Outdoor spaces include accessible paths that connect to the community barbecue area, a large community garden area with planting beds and irrigation, outdoor seating areas, and a bocce court.
Vintage at the Crossings is adjacent to a large shopping center, which includes retail, restaurants, a pharmacy, and other services, which is ideal for residents who can’t afford cars or no longer can drive. In addition, third-party service providers are brought in to help residents with healthy lifestyle choices, nutritional education, positive relationships, financial education, insurance choices, and computer training.
The development team also prioritized energy efficiency and went above and beyond what is required by state and local standards for market-rate housing, providing utility savings for the senior residents. It has an overall energy-efficient rating equivalent to Energy Star 3.1 or greater, with Energy Star appliances and windows, auto-motion sensors throughout, and a highly efficient heating and cooling system.
The project received support from the city, county, and state. The city of Reno expedited the approval and permit process and allocated bond cap, while Washoe County allocated HOME funds, and the Nevada Housing Division allocated 4% low-income housing tax credits, bond cap, and gap funding.
