Sioux Falls Affordable Housing- Design and Engineering Collaboration

Sioux Falls Affordable Housing Solutions philosophy is that every family deserves a place to call home. To facilitate this philosophy, the organization purchases dilapidated properties in Sioux Falls and either rehabs them or tears them down and replaces them with new houses. The new houses are sold to households with an income of less than 80% of the area median income. They also provide multi-family housing to rent to individuals with an income less than 40% of the area median income.

On October 1, 2013 ground breaking was held for the newest of these projects, Highland Five Homes. This project was the result of a Design Competition presented by Architecture for Humanity – Sioux Falls and sponsored by the City of Sioux Falls Community Development Office and Affordable Housing Solutions. The objective of the contest was to design a functional, Energy Star 2009 attainable apartment complex with five to six units for under $300,000 (including materials and construction costs) and no greater than 3,600 total interior square feet. The winning entry was donated by Co-op Architecture, West Plains Engineering, Rise Incorporated and Confluence Landscape Architects. With funding from multiple sources, including Wesley United Methodist Church, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Federal, State and City entities, this project will become a reality.

Highland Five homes will consist of five one-bedroom townhomes featuring a clerestory in the living space, pergolas over the unit entries, patios on the back and raised planting beds for the residents to use for flowers and vegetables. The youth group from Wesley United Methodist Church will assist the residents in maintaining the planting beds. Completion of this project is anticipated in the spring of 2014.