Dove Street Independent Housing is an independent,low-rise apartment building for formerly homeless individuals living with advanced AIDS and other disabilities. The project includes eight apartments, shared garden space, exercise equipment and a community room. These facilities assist in delivering the services required for this population to maintain their own household. Independent living is the choice of the residents and is less expensive than other options. The proximity of the development to a grocery, the VA hospital, parks, library and other community amenities also is important to the residents independence and critical to the project’s success.

This project is notable for the way in which stable housing has contributed to improving the lives of occupants. Residents regain dignity and control. Each new tenant has been homeless and is very ill. As a stable living environment assists in health care including maintaining medication regiments. Many residents begin contributing to the community by assisting to support and counsel new residents. This has been followed by obtaining employment, regaining custody of children and many other personal victories.

Dove Street Independent Housing was designed with considerable input from the area neighborhood association and organizations devoted to serving people living with AIDS. This collaboration led to an elegant building which is admired by the community and treasured by the residents. It is also important that the community has embraced this project. There was 100 percent support in a vote by the neighborhood association to support the zoning permit for this project.

Financing of the project included the use of low income tax credits.

The Capital District Community Loan Fund provided affordable construction financing.

The primary source of financing for the project is a deferred - no repayment - loan from the State designed to serve the needs of homeless individuals and families. An operating subsidy from HUD's HOPWA program allows the project to meet the complex operating needs of the residents.

Contain construction and lifecycle costs:

A primary goal of the project is to control operating costs yet maintain a high quality environment for the future. Among the measures taken were specifying materials which maintain usefulness and appearance without expensive maintenance such as brick, enameled aluminum trim, slate entry tile, and hardwood floors in the living areas. This project was designed to be at least a 100 year building.

Support household and neighborhood fit:

The objective of Dove Street Independent Housing was to craft a beautiful building which is compatible with surrounding historic architecture yet contemporary and distinctive in approach. The goal was to construct a building which is bright, open and conducive to building community.

The building is located in the Center Square/Hudson Park Historic District. This district is composed primarily of rowhouses. One of the project1s goals is to establish a residential image compatible with the community and in compliance with the district regulations. The resulting design is a compositional whole yet reflects the rhythms, proportions, materials, and texture of the individual rowhouses in the surrounding context. The design was inspired by several rows of brick rowhouses in the area constructed in the late 1800s. The design reinterprets some of the features of these outstanding designs with contemporary materials and vocabulary.

Many elements of the project were established in consultation with the neighborhood association and adjoining property owners. Open space at the street line was at the specific request of the community group as was locating community spaces in the building in a manner which facilitates their use for neighborhood events.

The architects worked closely with AIDS advocates and people living with AIDS and their caregivers to understand housing and other needs. Research for the project included visits to other operating residences. Among the features developed as a result of this collaboration are in-unit laundry facilities (due to frequent nausea and diarrhea as well as control of the spread of bacteria and virus), ample storage, out of view, for medicine and medical equipment, and light control features.

Adapt to household changes:

This project was designed with the firm conviction that the project would become obsolete when a cure for AIDS was found as well as a knowledge that the populations impacted by AIDS were constantly changing. Therefore the project was designed to accommodate change which could include future use by elderly populations.

Be universal accessible:

The project is designed to be accessible and/or adaptable for various users. All interior and exterior spaces are wheelchair accessible including all required clearances, shelves and other equipment was located within easy reach of a person using a wheelchair. Kitchens are easily modified to accommodate individual needs and all baths are fully accessible. Risers are sloped, railings extended, and levers and grab bars provided to assist those who are mobility impaired. Non-glare finishes, indirect lighting, blinds , and fixture clearances accommodate the needs of visually impaired residents and visitors. Visual alarms are provided for users with auditory impairments. Microwaves, dishwashers and air conditioners are also important features which facilitate independent living by the residents.