Heritage Senior Residences at Columbia Parc marks the fourth and final phase of housing in the master-planned, 52-acre Columbia Parc at the Bayou District in New Orleans, which replaces the former St. Bernard public housing project that was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina.
Achieving LEED for Homes Platinum certification, the development team went above and beyond the sustainability measures that were in the first three phases of Columbia Parc, which earned LEED Silver.
The water- and energy-efficient units help seniors save on their utility bills. After more than a year in operation, Jim Grauley, president of Columbia Residential, says most residents are averaging well below half the utility allowance allocated as part of their rents. The seniors also receive ample community and supportive services from nonprofit Kingsley House.
The 120-unit development serves seniors 62 and older, with 83 units set aside for residents with project-based rental assistance, 36 units for public housing residents at 30 percent of the area median income (AMI), and one unit restricted to a resident earning at or below 80 percent of the AMI.