DESCRIPTION
The Veterans Village is a 66 unit affordable housing community in Colma, California. It is situated between Cypress Lawn and Holy Cross cemeteries along Mission Road. The project is a new three story residential building. It also includes the preservation of the historic pump building for use by residents. The project program includes resident amenities such as a social hall, craft area, and bicycle storage. The project includes two large residential courtyards. In addition, there is a large resident open space that includes raised bed garden areas, an orchard, and a fenced dog run. For the wider community, a new interpretation plaza is included. 69 parking spaces are provided through two parking areas. One is adjacent to Cypress Lawn Cemetery and another is along the BART access road behind the garden area.
Vision
The Veterans Village project aims to develop a lively, affordable housing community. The project hopes to encourage residents’ living environment and social interactions through outdoor gardens. It also focuses on preserving and transforming the historical pump building into a community space.
Project Requirements
To develop a vibrant and inviting affordable housing community with supportive services for its residents. It is also easily served by transit.
DESIGN FEATURES
- Renovate historic pump house to be used as common area
- Spacious community garden and resident courtyards
- Architecture responds to light industrial context and historical pump house
- Public interpretation plaza which displays the area’s history
Project Information
- Client: Mercy Housing
- Building size/acres: 56,000 sq.ft./ 2.2 acre
- Density: 66 units
Award
- Winner in the Special-Needs Category of Affordable Housing Finance’s 2020 Readers’ Choice Award
Veterans Supportive Housing
VMWP designs supportive housing that uniquely serves each community it houses, whether senior, veteran, previously unhoused, disabled, aging out of foster care, or having experienced trauma. Our veterans affordable housing projects are often coupled with on-site medical care and social services to meet the complex needs of residents. Health-focused design principles and an enhanced services model create a restorative environment for residents to access a continuum of services on site. As architects, we realize how the physical environment affects identity, worth and dignity, and how it can promote empowerment for residents.