BEST PRACTICES IN TRIBAL HOUSING:

CASE STUDIES 2013

A REPORT BY THE SUSTAINABLE NATIVE COMMUNITIES COLLABORATIVE,

AN INITIATIVE OF ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY PARTNERS

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development | Office of Policy Development and Research Visit PD&R’s website

www.huduser.org

to find this report and others sponsored by HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R). Other services of HUD USER, PD&R’s research information service, include listservs, special interest reports, bimonthly publications (best practices, significant studies from other sources), access to public use databases, and a hotline (800-245-2691) for help accessing the information you need.

BEST PRACTICES IN TRIBAL HOUSING:

CASE STUDIES 2013

A REPORT BY THE SUSTAINABLE NATIVE COMMUNITIES COLLABORATIVE,

AN INITIATIVE OF ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Prepared for:

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Office of Policy Development & Research (PD&R)

Prepared by:

Jamie Blosser, Atkin Olshin Schade Architects

Nathaniel Corum, Architecture for Humanity

Daniel Glenn, 7 Directions Architects/Planners

Joseph Kunkel, Enterprise Rose Architectural Fel ow

Ed Rosenthal, Enterprise Community Partners Rural and Native American Initiative (RNAI) October 2014

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Enterprise Community Partners is a leading provider of the development capital and expertise it takes to create e

decent, affordable homes and rebuild communities. For nearly 30 years, Enterprise has introduced neighborhood ativ

solutions through public-private partnerships with financial institutions, governments, community organizations and others that share our vision. Enterprise has raised and invested $10.6 billion in equity, grants and loans to help build or preserve more than 270,000 affordable rental and for-sale homes to create vital communities.

ollabor

The Sustainable Native Communities Collaborative (SNCC), an Enterprise Community Partners initiative, is a group s C

of architects, community designers, development leaders, and sustainability advocates committed to affordable and healthy housing in Native American communities. The SNCC grew from tribal housing experience and a collective belief that each community must determine its own path toward sustainability. We listen to the vision and goals of tribal leaders, planners, and housing providers to help understand the challenges and opportunities facing tribes in ommunitie

providing environmentally responsible and culturally appropriate housing for their community members.

e C

Case Studies 2013 is made possible by generous support from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R), support from Enterprise Community Partners, and the generous donation of time from our Collaborative volunteers.

tainable Nativ

Thank you to all the case study teams participating in the CASE STUDIES 2013, and special thanks to: usS

Jamie Blosser, Founder, Sustainable Native Communities Collaborative (SNCC); Associate, Atkin Olshin Schade Architects

Nathaniel Corum, SNCC; Architect, Head of Education Outreach, Architecture for Humanity Raymond Demers, Enterprise Green Communities

Daniel Glenn, SNCC; Principal, 7 Directions Architects/Planners Russell Kaney, Director of Programs, Rural and Native American Initiative, Enterprise Community Partners Joseph Kunkel, SNCC; Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellow, Santo Domingo Housing Authority Ed Rosenthal, Vice President, Rural and Native American Initiative, Enterprise Community Partners Katie Swenson, Vice President, Design Initiatives, Enterprise Community Partners Atkin Olshin Schade Architects

Adventure Pictures

ANAGR.AM

The contents of this report are the views of the contractor and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or the U.S. government.

FOREWORD

e

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development presents this report on 17 projects that highlight a variety of unique features of sustainable construction within Native American settings. When sustainable housing is implemented within Native ativ

American communities, the result can be healthier, more energy-efficient, and climatically appropriate housing stock that often incorporates strong cultural and historic tribal design elements.

ollabor

The 17 projects featured in this effort from HUD’s Sustainable Construction in Indian Country initiative exemplify this emerging transformation in tribal housing. They not only employ sustainable technologies and materials—low-flow plumbing fixtures, photos C

voltaic panels, structurally insulated panels, stormwater retention, and clustered housing plans—but also establish abiding connections to heritage, culture, and the natural world.

The best practices that emerge from these case studies point to innovative ways that tribal housing providers are using housing ommunitie

improvement, including green housing, to overcome challenges related to funding, infrastructure capacity, loss of cultural traditions, and economic development. Many project teams featured in the report approached housing development holistically—incorporating e C

meaningful community engagement during the design process, reaching out to establish partnerships and collaborations that later proved critical to project success, and solving complex challenges ranging from site planning to financing and tribal employment.

There is a cautionary tale to be told as well. Early adopters of sustainable building practices or builders reintroducing much older cultural approaches to home construction take on a certain level of risk that must be balanced with thorough pre-construction planning, meticulous construction, and post-construction monitoring and maintenance.

tainable Nativ

It is our hope that, by disseminating these case studies, more tribal communities will be encouraged to create their own culturally usS appropriate and environmentally responsible housing. These fine examples set by the tribes and their partners demonstrate what is possible when cultural traditions are honored while being interwoven with modern, sustainable design and construction strategies that look to the future.

Katherine O’Regan, Ph.D.

Assistant Secretary for

Policy Development and Research

iv

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

TABLE OF CONTENTS

vii

Executive Summary

e

viii

Case Study Locations | Map

ativ

1

Best Practices | Design

ollabor

2

Devine Legacy | Native American Connections

s C

6

Kumuhau Subdivision | Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

10

Passamaquoddy Tribe | Kikunol Housing

12

Coeur d’Alene Tribe | The Gathering Place

ommunitie

13

Best Practices | Site

e C

14

Arizona State University Stardust Center | Nageezi House | Navajo 16

Port Gamble S’Klallam Nation | Teekalet Village

20

Pinoleville Pomo Nation | Pinoleville Pomo Nation Homes

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22

Penobscot Indian Nation | Penobscot LEED Homes

usS

26

Mescalero Apache Tribe | I-Sah’-Din’-Dii, Phase I

28

Northern Cheyenne Nation | Straw Bale Homes

30

Best Practices | Innovation

31

Best Practices | Culture

32

Navajo Nation | NHA Planning Manual

36

Pascua Yaqui Tribe | Guadalupe House

38

Apsáalooke (Crow) Tribe | Awe’-Itche Ashe, Good Earth Lodges 42

Puyallup Tribe | Place of Hidden Waters

46

Ysleta del Sur Pueblo | LIHTC Pueblo Homes

48

Ohkay Owingeh | Owe’neh Bupingeh Rehabilitation Project Indigenous Community 52

Enterprises | Elder Hooghan Homes Initiative | Navajo

54

Best Practices | Green

55

Best Practices | Impact

56

Research Team

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

v

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

e

ativ

ollabor

s C

It is with great enthusiasm that we present the exemplary tribal housing documented here, as part of the Case Studies 2013 project by the Sustainable Native Communities Collaborative. These case studies are foundational ommunitie

to our multiyear effort to research and share the exciting work that tribes are undertaking across the country.

The 17 projects featured are not intended to represent all of the green building occurring across Indian Country, e C

but rather to exemplify an emerging transformation in tribal housing. Once again, tribal housing projects are increasingly connected to heritage, culture, and nature.

Many best practices are emerging from this research, helping to clarify the innovative ways that tribal housing providers are overcoming challenges including funding, infrastructure capacity, loss of cultural traditions, and economic development. In particular, many featured teams approached housing development in a holistic manner—incorporating meaningful community engagement during the design process, reaching out to establish tainable Nativ

partnerships and collaborations that later proved critical for success, and solving complex challenges, from site us

planning to financing and tribal employment. Four of these projects were documented through video to better tell S

their stories.

These 17 projects, selected from a group of diverse projects nationwide, are all recently built works with the exception of one long-term sustainable housing plan. They were reviewed for their replicability and applicability to other communities, and for their expression of green building features, community engagement processes, design excellence, cultural sensitivity, and for addressing broader community needs, such as training and employment. The projects were selected to show a range of project types, including rental and homeownership projects; and multifamily, single-family, and prototype demonstration projects. Importantly, each project was reviewed for its comprehensive approach and its potential to educate and inspire other communities. A breakdown of the projects is shown below.

347 HOMES

38% MULTIFAMILY

56% HOMEOWNERSHIP

44% SINGLE FAMILY

44% RENTAL

18% DEMONSTRATION PROJECT

40% TRAINING IMPLEMENTED PROGRAMS

25% LIHTC PROJECT

38% TRAINING EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS

$142 AVERAGE COST PER SF

The projects showcased here demonstrate that high-quality housing from within tribal communities can be a catalytic force—providing hope and strength in sometimes desperate conditions. It is hoped that through the dissemination of this case study research, technical assistance collaborations, and funding focused on sustainable construction, more tribal communities will gain access to the means of creating their own culturally appropriate and environmentally responsible housing. This Case Study 2013 research exists with the support of the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Policy Development and Research Office (PD&R), through the Sustainable Construction in Indian Country Small Grant Program.

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

vii

SUSTAINABLE NATIVE COMMUNITIES COLLABORATIVE

Kingston, WA

Teekalet Village

Bellingham, WA

Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe

Lummi Community Homes

Port Angeles, WA

Cowlitz, WA

Lower Elwha Klallam

Inchelium Community Housing

Lame Deer, MT

Energy Homes

25 Green Homes Project

Neah Bay, WA

Makah Supportive Homes

Tacoma, WA

Place of Hidden Waters

Puyallup Tribe of Indians

Coos Bay, OR

Crow Agency, MT

Qaxas Heights

Plummer, ID

Good Earth Lodges

Lame Deer, MT

The Gathering Place

Apsáalooke (Crow) Tribe

Northern Cheyenne

Coeur d'Alene Tribe

LEED Homes

Northern Cheyenne Tribe

Klamath, CA

Yurok Senior

Rosebud, SD

Housing

Five Sustainable Sioux Houses

Pine Ridge, SD

Sustainable Planning

Ukiah, CA

Pinoleville Pomo

Nation Homes

Hotevilla-Bacavi, AZ

Pinoleville Pomo Nation

Hopi Nation Straw Bale Homes

Navajo Nation

Elder Hooghan Homes

Yerington, NV

Navajo Nation

Paiute Senior

Duplexes

Nageezi, NM

Navajo Nation

Nageezi House

NHA Panning Manual

Navajo Nation

Navajo Nation

Ohkay Owingeh, NM

Camp Verde, AZ

Owe’neh Bupingeh

Yavapai-Apache Homes

Ohkay Owingeh

Valley Center, CA

San Pasqual

Cultural Residences

Phoenix, AZ

Devine Legacy

Bishop, CA

Isleta Pueblo, NM

Coyote Mountain

Guadalupe, AZ

Pueblo Homes

Apartments

Guadalupe House

Pascua Yaqui Tribe

Mescalero, NM

I-Sah’-Din’-Dii

Alaska

Mescalero Apache Tribe

Not to scale

El Paso, TX

Ysleta del Sur LIHTC Homes

Ysleta del Sur Pueblo

Anaktuvuk, AK

Anaktuvuk Pass

Zuni Pueblo, NM

Prototypes

Clustered Homes

Whiteriver, AZ

New and Rehab Project

Quinhagak, AK

Waimanalo, HI

Sustainable

Haines, AK

Northern Shelter

Chilkoot Estates

Kumuhau Subdivision

Quinhagak House

Subdivision

Native Hawaiians

Hawaii

Not to scale

viii

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

CASE STUDY LOCATIONS

Lower Red Lake, MN

Red Lake Supportive Housing

Pleasant Point, ME

Duluth, MN

Kikunol Housing

Fond du Lac Supportive

Passamaquoddy Tribe

Housing

Petoskey, MI

Mtigwaakiis

Indian Island, ME

Penobscot LEED Homes

Penobscot Indian Nation

Sault Ste. Marie, MI

Sault Ste.

Marie Housing Retrofit

Hogansburg, NY

White Earth, MN

St. Regis Mohawk

Dream Catcher

Housing

Homes Project

Fulton, MI

Mishkoswen Road

Crandon, WI

Housing Development

Sokaogon Chippewa

Housing

Keshena, WI

Menominee Housing

Dowagiac, MI

Pokagonek Edawat

Choctaw, MS

Tiak Chitto Subdivision

Pembroke, NC

Lumbee Home Designs

Tribal green projects

SNCC Case Study 2013 locations

Reservation boundaries

Marksville, LA

Tunica Biloxi Homes

American Indian populations

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

ix

BEST PRACTICES |  DESIGN

How does the community help to guide

the design?

Solar

Envelope

Food

Cultural

Form

DE

Good design is the cornerstone of the highlighted projects presented here. They bear witness to a transformation of tribal housing SIGN

around the country through community engagement, innovative thinking, thoughtful design, creative financing, partnership-building, and a connection to heritage, culture, and nature. Because many of them have incorporated various checklists, rating systems, internal reviews, and building commissioning through the green building process, their design and construction have been tested for appropriateness and durability. For instance, tight building envelopes, properly installed flashing so water sheds properly, appropriate R-values based on the climate, and properly sized and installed heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Many of these projects incorporated a dialogue with the community to discuss specific family, cultural, and heritage needs that housing can and should address. The most successful projects involved a high level of collaboration among many different partners, including housing authorities, architects and engineers, community members, tribal leaders, funding agencies, and contractors. This type of collaborative effort, known as “integrated design,” ensures that long-term goals and the project vision are established collectively at the onset and can be tested through many lenses. This effort results in more thoughtfully designed and built projects, which typically have fewer change orders during construction. Because of the integrated design approach, each project is uniquely realized and built specifically for its community and place. For example, it is clear from the photographs that the Kumuhau Subdivision is in Hawaii, the Place of Hidden Waters is in the Northwest, the Guadalupe and Nageezi homes are located in the Southwest desert, and the Ysleta del Sur and Owe’neh Bupingeh homes are in Pueblo communities. Many of these projects are also beautiful, serving as beacons of community hope and pride.

1

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

Phoenix, AZ

NATIVE AMERICAN CONNECTIONS  | DEVINE LEGACY

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2

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Client/Developer:

Native American Connections

Syndicator:

National Equity Fund

07

ep

Architect:

Perlman Architects of Arizona

Financing Partners:

City of Phoenix, Arizona Department of Housing,

t de

Design Architect:

Pyatok Architects

Federal Home Loan Bank, U.S. Department of Housing

sign/

Contractor:

Adolfson & Peterson Construction

and Urban Development

Partners:

Arizona State University Stardust Center, Daniel Glenn

visioning

COMMUNITY A

Devine Legacy is a mixed-income, transit-oriented development along the north-south light-rail line of central Phoenix. Developed by Native American Connections, a nonprofit corporation to serve the urban Indian population of Phoenix, it contains seven different unit types, including townhomes, lofts, and flats, with no differentiation between the 90 per-De

OC

cent affordable and 10 percent market-rate units. The site is strategically v

T 2

elopmen

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located for residents to gain access to work and school, with a light-rail 008

S

station located one-half block away and downtown less than 3 miles to the S

south.

t plan appr

Photo: Perlman Architects of Arizona

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CORE PROJECT EMPHASES:

v

UNIT TYPE VARIETY

ed

DESIGN

TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT

R

SEP

SITE

ec

H O MANAGEMENT

2

eiv

T 2

Ventilation

Gathering

Density

Proximity

INNOVATION

ed LIHT

009

SOUTHWEST VERNACULAR

CULTURE

LESSONS LEARNED

LEED PLATINUM

C alloc

GREEN

• Transit-oriented, high-density design makes

CREATING ACCESS

it easier to live affordably without having to

ation

IMPACT

own a car.

TOTAL PROJECT COST:

• Cultural elements were designed to be

$13.7M

Clo

A

somewhat universal, because families from

TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST:

UG 2

s

many different traditions live here.

$11.1M

ed on financing

PER SQ FOOT:

010

• Excellent outdoor common spaces are

$145

important with high-density living.

COST PER UNIT:

VARIES: $160,000 AVG.

BEST PRACTICES

TOTAL UNITS:

65

• Transit-oriented development can be a focus

for the needs of urban Indians.

C

NO

• Access to an outdoor community space

ons

V 2

formed a cohesive traditional atmosphere.

truction c

011

• LEED certification was a top priority.

• The project is directly adjacent to many

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health and social services to meet the needs

of working families.

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Multifamily

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Southwest

Phot

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Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

2

DEVINE LEGACY

C

This affordable housing community was the first to open along the Phoenix Metro light-rail line at the Campbell & Central Light ONTEX

Rail Station. Native American Connections developed the site selected for the project, which included a blighted building that had been vacant since 2006 and posed a threat to the neighborhood for loitering, vandalism, and graffiti, and which caused concerns T

of increased crime at other neighborhood properties. The redevelopment of the project site remedied all these issues. The project contains a wide range of housing types, including townhomes, lofts, and flats, with 90 percent affordable and 10 percent market-rate units. The site is strategically located for residents to gain access to work and school, with a light-rail station located one half block away and downtown less than 3 miles to the south. The city’s main public high school is located directly across the street from the development. The building just to the development’s south contains the offices of the developer and the many social services, health, and cultural organizations that cater to the needs of Native Americans in Phoenix.

Photo: Perlman Architects of Arizona

Photo: Perlman Architects of Arizona

SITE

The primary site feature is the courtyard on the second level

that is open to the sky. The courtyard provides a protected

common space for tenants and is a contextual element of

the Southwest vernacular. It has a playground for children

and sitting areas for adults. Common barbecue grills are

in the courtyard and at outdoor common areas on each

floor. Parking, which was reduced because of access to the

adjacent rail line, is provided in a parking garage at the

ground floor, along with bicycle racks. A new community

room on the property, which faces the street, is designed for

many purposes, including a meeting space for the residents’

association, tutoring, training classes, and family events.

Photo: Perlman Architects of Arizona

3

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

DEVINE LEGACY

DE

This mixed-income housing project was designed as

GREEN

The sustainable, affordable housing development is a

SIGN

a culturally appropriate urban Indian community. The

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for

project’s design excellence was a top priority of Native

Homes Multifamily Platinum project, making it the most

American Connections. To effectively accomplish its

sustainable housing community in Arizona. The project team’s

goals, the developer decided it was necessary to engage

initial goal was to achieve LEED Silver certification. After

in the design process. Arizona State University Stardust

completion of the energy modeling and consultation with

and Pyatok Associates worked with the project team at

the LEED for Homes provider, the team decided to try for

the onset to provide design visioning and cultural insights.

Gold certification. As the project progressed, even Platinum

The result is a contemporary southwestern vernacular

certification became a possibility. The entire project team

building that embodies the project’s highest priorities,

worked during the process to incorporate additional green

including a high-density, transit-oriented development

measures.

program, comfortable outdoor communal space, high

green performance standards, and cultural design

As a result, the project achieved 26 percent energy savings

elements.

and diverted 58 percent of its construction waste from the

landfill. ENERGY STAR appliances were installed; all HVAC

Because one size does not fit all, the development has

equipment is high efficiency, and no HCFC refrigerants were

a variety of unit types—seven total. To effectively blend

used. Wall insulation is higher than required by code in the

market-rate units with affordable housing units, the

Phoenix area, and windows have U-values of 0.42 and a solar

project team realized that some market-rate amenities

heat gain coefficient of 0.32. All plumbing fixtures are low

must be made available to everyone, such as high ceilings

flow. The project received exemplary LEED points because of

and an urban “loft” look for some of the units. The

the close proximity to light-rail, which allows for 373 riders per two-story apartments, with double-height living spaces,

day. These design solutions allow for a significant reduction in have vertical stack ventilation, reducing dependence

the challenging southern Arizona climate.

on air conditioning during the transitional seasons. The

courtyard open to the east and west acts as a breezeway,

bringing air through the building mass.

Drawing courtesy of Pueblo Grande Museum Archeological Park

Photo: Perlman Architects of Arizona

C

The project was oriented toward Native American working families in Phoenix, and the design is based on the culture of the ancient UL

TURE

Hohokam, who were one of the original people of the Phoenix Valley and lived in compact, pueblo-style, earthen, multistory structures. There are numerous health and social services provided in the Native American Connections building just next door, which is important to the families living here. The development team hosted focus groups through architectural programming sessions on unit amenities, features, and design. Eco-traditional designs such as east-facing entrance, courtyard, and gathering spaces for residents, perform to provide effective cross ventilation and bring in eastern light. Units were designed with open kitchen and living environments for family gatherings. The project has become part of a larger Native American community center for the surrounding urban area.

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

4

DEVINE LEGACY

INNO

Started as a vision five years ago, Devine Legacy, located

on Central, is the first mixed-income transit-oriented

VA

development (TOD) housing community to open along the

TION

Phoenix Metro light-rail line.

FINANCING

Trying to secure funding for the project in late 2009 and

early 2010 was very challenging in the capital markets. A

great deal of patience and time was spent with each fund-

ing source to address any concerns regarding the finan-

cial viability of the project given the economic climate of

that time. After completion of the project, in 2011, Native

American Connections converted its permanent financing

in the fall of 2012.

Photo: Perlman Architects of Arizona

Furnishings

1%

Acquisition

Reserves

7%

2%

A/E/survey

Loan costs

5%

2%

Attorney

fees

1%

Site

improvements

9%

Building

construction

73%

Project cost breakdown

Photo: Perlman Architects of Arizona

LE

The project takes advantage of the benefits of a very urban location to meet the transit and SSONS LEARNED

supportive services needs of urban Indians in Phoenix. The transit-oriented, high-density design makes it easier for working families to live affordably without having to own a car—a significant paradigm shift in a very car-oriented, western city. Through the design process and community meetings, the project team realized that any cultural design elements incorporated into the project would need to be somewhat universal, because families from many different traditions

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would be living in the community here. In addition, it was determined that, because of the high ONCL

density of the project, excellent outdoor common space areas designed to be comfortable in all seasons were critical. The development team’s green design objectives were clear from USION

the outset, but it was not originally anticipated that the project would obtain LEED Platinum certification, which was met because of the comprehensive approach to all site and building elements.

Photo: Perlman Architects of Arizona

5

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

Waimanalo, HI

DEPT. OF HAWAIIAN HOME LANDS  | KUMUHAU SUBDIVISION

Sit

OC

e

Client/Developer

Department of Hawaiian Home Lands

Sustainability Consultant:

Green Sand, Inc.

T 2

work and de

Architect:

Armstrong Design, LTD

HERS Rater:

Green Building, LLC

00

Contractor:

Armstrong Builders, LLC

Landscape Architect:

PBR Hawaii

7

Engineers:

BASE + Akinaka Associates

Other Partners:

HUD, USDA Rural Development, Veterans Affairs,

sign

FHA, Home Street Bank, Office of Hawaiian Affairs

CLIMA

The Kumuhau Subdivision provided eco-friendly and climate-respon-Sit

JUNE 2

sive home ownership opportunities to 45 Native Hawaiian families in e c

TE

Waimanalo, on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. After developing the site, the ons

-RE

Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) competitively selected 008

truction s

SPONSIVE

Armstrong Development to design and build the project. The climate-responsive and cost-effective designs include social elements, such as carports that act as outdoor shaded rooms and considerations for tar

future expansion. The homes were so popular and demand so great ts

that all the homes were sold in one day.

Photo: David Franzen

De

OC

CORE PROJECT EMPHASES:

sign and builder s

T 2

CLIMATE RESPONSIVE

009

“COUNTRY” DENSITY

SITE

EXPANDABLE

Solar

Density

Replicable

Air Quality

INNOVATION

OUTDOOR LIVING

elect

CULTURE

LESSONS LEARNED

LEED GOLD

ed

GREEN

• Site planning and home design may be more

MODEL HOMES

cost effective when integrated.

IMPACT

Sit

JUNE 2

e c

• Well-designed homes that also reduce

TOTAL PROJECT COST:

ons

energy costs to homeowners will be in high

$19.9M*

010

truction c

demand, even during a recession.

TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST:

$13.4M

• Proper ventilation, shading, and site

orientation can mitigate the need for

COST PER SQ FOOT:

omple

$180

mechanical cooling in a tropical climate.

COST PER UNIT:

t

$213,000 - $311,000

e

BEST PRACTICES

• Outdoor living features provide a connection

TOTAL UNITS:

45

to the outdoors and a sense of community.

• An innovative approach to high wind code

S

JUL

requirements reduced costs by providing

tar

bracing for storm events.

t c

Y 2

ons

010

• A comprehensive approach to design and

truction

building provides multiple benefits: comfort,

flexibility, long-term durability, and reduction

in costs to the residents.

*Includes site construction costs

Clo

JAN-

sing on home

JUNE 2

011

s and mo

Single Family

ve-in

Pacific Islands

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

6

KUMUHAU SUBDIVISION

C

The project is located approximately 1 mile from the

ONTEX

eastern, windward coast of Oahu and the Waimanalo Bay

State Recreation Area. Only 15 miles and a 30-minute

T

drive from Honolulu, Waimanalo has one of the highest

concentrations of Native Hawaiians on Oahu—almost

25 percent of the town is made up of Pacific Islanders.

Waimanalo means “potable water,” apparently named for

the many ponds in the area and its agricultural history.

Today, there is an interest to revitalize Waimanalo’s

agricultural traditions through projects such as the 21st

Century Ahupua’a.

Waimanalo Bay State Recreation Area

Photo: SNCC

AHUPU

K—anewai, or the “rule of the water,” helped to inform the

development of the covenants, codes, and restrictions for

Kumuhau’s homeowner association. Kanewai is also the

A’A

basis of the ahupua’a, which is the traditional Hawaiian

land ownership and management system. The ahupua’a

extends from the mountaintop to the coral reefs in the

sea, with specific rights and responsibilities for everyone

helping to sustainably manage this very interrelated

ecosystem. The ahupua’a system in Hawaii was mostly

destroyed by modern development and economic sys-

tems. However, today there is an interest to reactivate the

concept as a local form of sustainability, and the town of

Waimanalo is on the forefront of this with the 21st Cen-

tury Ahupua’a, including the Living Laboratory and Sweet

Home Waimanalo Market Cafe. It is hoped that future

housing development in Waimanalo ties into the exciting

sustainability work and reinvigoration of agriculture by

local groups.

Ahupua’a

Painting by Marilyn Kahalewae

21st Century Ahupua’a, Waimanalo

Photo: SNCC

CUL

The homes were designed to evoke the colorful plantation

TURE

style homes of Hawaii, with both one- and two-story homes.

Careful attention was paid to a connection between the

indoor and outdoor and to taking advantage of the temperate

Hawaiian climate to allow for more outdoor living. Each home

has a “lanai,” or veranda, and the parking was designed so

that two cars can fit in the driveway, allowing the carport to be used as an outdoor living room. Each carport has a screen,

providing extra privacy between neighbors.

The homes were also designed to be easily expandable, an

important consideration, given that many Native Hawaiian

families are large. Extra plumbing stub outs allow for eventual build-out of an additional bathroom and bedroom.

Drawing: Armstrong Design, LTD

7

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

KUMUHAU SUBDIVISION

GREEN

Electricity in Hawaii is extremely expensive, at more than

25 cents per kilowatt hour. The many green features are

therefore specifically targeted to resident health and energy

efficiency. The homes have solar hot water, net-metered

2.5kW photovoltaic (PV) panels, low-emittance window

glazing, above-code wall insulation, compact fluorescent

lightbulbs, and “solar clothes dryers” (otherwise known as

outdoor clotheslines). The homeowners received both federal

and state tax credits totaling 65 percent of installed cost for the PV and solar hot water systems, and many report they

now pay only the minimum $16.85 monthly electrical hookup

fees.

Photo: SNCC

2 Bedrooms | 1 Story | Axonometric Floor Plan

Drawing: Armstrong Design, LTD

Reflective metal roofing

reduces heat gain inside

Centralized whole-house fans ensure

Overhead storage

home.

excellent ventilation and reduce the need

for plywood storm

48” overhang is for

for air conditioning.

window panels.

afternoon shade.

Low- and no-VOC

Louvered

paints, Green

windows aid air

Label carpet,

circulation.

and marmoleum

flooring improve

indoor air quality.

Drives are longer so

that carport can act

as outdoor living area.

Carport is screened

for additional privacy.

Photovoltaic and

solar hot water

Outdoor “lanai” and

panels are on the

A plumbing “stub

space for shoes.

carport roof. The

out” and site design

carport is pre-

allows for a future

Each home has a clothesline,

wired for electric

second bathroom

space for a garden, and a compost

and additional

N

vehicles.

area.

bedroom.

GREEN

The homes were designed to be LEED Silver under the LEED

for Homes rating system but have since achieved LEED

Gold certification. The homes were designed to be energy

efficient, with a tight building envelope, good air circulation, and ventilation. The homes feature a whole-house Airscape

fan, which was customized to be much quieter by making

changes to the motor and location and is now called the

Kohila fan, which means “gentle breeze.” It is located centrally in each home and sits on the roof. In addition to the home

having a whole-house fan, each bedroom and bathroom have

Whispergreen exhaust fans, which are very quiet.

Kohila fan closed

Kohila fan open

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

8

KUMUHAU SUBDIVISION

INNO

Because this was a design/build process, the design was

IMP

More than 55 percent of Native Hawaiians pay more than 30

tested against costs at every step along the way. This

A

percent of their income for housing, and only 57 percent own

V

C

A

allowed for innovative measures to be incorporated, such

T

their homes. The cost of living in Hawaii is very expensive

TION

as the solution to the high wind design load requirement

and Native Hawaiians do not have the same access to tribal

per building code. Instead of stiffening the entire house

trust land as many tribes on the mainland, requiring them to

frame at the exterior walls or installing expensive storm

qualify for conventional mortgages or wait to be assigned a

windows, Armstrong designed custom, predrilled plywood

home through the DHHL wait list. In order to qualify, families panels that can be easily installed over the windows

must have at least 50 percent blood quantum, must qualify

before a large storm event, when the high winds occur,

for a mortgage, and then may eventually receive a home

that serve to stiffen the entire frame of each home. The

based on a lottery system.

plywood panels are stored in custom-made racks located

overhead in each carport.

DHHL recognizes the dire need for more high quality hous-

ing and is developing property throughout Hawaii. DHHL

I have seen the aloha from the many

began developing the Waimanalo site before hiring Armstrong

through a competitive bid process. Armstrong won the bid

people....I have met through this

in part because of their commitment to LEED certification.

process, how much care and pride they

Armstrong acted as the designer and builder. Armstrong and

have in their work. That is important

DHHL worked with Home Street Bank to help interested Na-

tive Hawaiian families qualify for home mortgages. Because of

to me as a Hawaiian, because it has

the green design features, the hard work of families to qualify always been about partnership and

for mortgages, and the need for housing, the homes all sold

those that come to provide helping

within one day.

hands and their hands mana’o. So this

house represents me everything as a

Hawaiian, and it’s beautiful, beautiful,

beautiful. - Raenani, Laiopus homeowner

Photo: David Franzen

LE

S

This process helped to demonstrate that affordable housing can be cost-effectively built to SONS LEARNED

LEED standards and can have a high market demand even in a difficult economic recession. It has also helped to modify DHHL’s development process, so that with new projects, site planning occurs simultaneously with building design. This helps to avoid coordination pitfalls. There are also exciting new partnerships to ensure that future projects are developed in an integrated and sustainable manner and that they are climatically and culturally appropriate. Recently, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, which is focused on reducing the amount that Native Hawaiians pay for housing and on increasing home ownership, partnered with DHHL to help pay for infrastructure costs through paying the debt service on $90 million of DHHL bonds. These critical partnerships, along with the success of the Kumuhau Subdivision, are leading to exciting new projects including new homes in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii and on the island of Maui.

Photo: Yumeko Tochiko

Left-to-right: Kahu Kordell, Anita Seyer-Wong, and Daniel

9

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

Sandomire

Pleasant Point, ME

PASSAMAQUODDY  |  KIKUNOL HOUSING

Client:

Pleasant Point Housing Authority

Project Engineer:

James W. Sewall Company

Developer:

Passamaquoddy Tribal Government

Project Engineer:

Hedefine Engineering & Design

Architect:

Design Group Collaborative

Development Partner:

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Contractor:

Blaine Casey Contractor and Coastline Homes

LOC

AL VERNA

The Kikunol housing project is located in Pleasant Point at the north-eastern tip of the United States. The Passamaquoddy people have inhabited this historic area for thousands of years. In the form of a semicircle, the site plan references traditional gathering protocols.

The 17 multifamily homes were designed to blend with a wooded

C

landscape and to honor symbols and shapes that are part of the Pas-ULAR

samaquoddy heritage.

Photo: Design Group Collaborative

CORE PROJECT EMPHASES:

CLUSTERED

DESIGN

LOW IMPACT

SITE

EFFICIENT HEATING

Solar

Proximity

Renewable

Engagement

INNOVATION

LOCAL SYMBOLS

CULTURE

LESSONS LEARNED

PASSIVE SOLAR

GREEN

• Site analysis early in the project leads to a

COMMUNITY

better alignment with environmental goals.

IMPACT

• Close collaboration between the housing

TOTAL PROJECT COST:

authority and contractors leads to a more

TBD

successful process.

TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST:

$4.45M

COST PER SQ FOOT:

$126

COST PER UNIT:

$82,000-177,000

BEST PRACTICES

TOTAL UNITS:

• The buildings are oriented for maximum

17

solar gain and exposure.

• Clustered massing minimizes the impact on

the site, including lessened impact on the

surrounding wetlands.

• A solar hot water system together teamed

with a high-efficiency system comprise an

efficient heating system.

Multifamily

Northeast

Dra

Dr wing: De

a

sign Gr

wing: De

oup C

sign Gr

ollabor

oup C

ativ

ollabor

e

ativ

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

10

KIKUNOL HOUSING

C

C

ONTEX

Today, Pleasant Point is a small reservation of about

UL

Kikunol Housing was designed with respect for Passama-

2,000 residents. The Pleasant Point Housing Authority

TURE

quoddy heritage. Passamaquoddy winter structures, such as

(PPHA) owns most of the housing on the reservation. The

wigwams, were built with local materials, with their openings

T

community is very close and committed to its tribal his-

facing to the east—welcoming the morning sun. A decorated

tory and roots. The project site is in a wooded area that

pole was used to prop open a traditional entry. Designed to

is slightly elevated from the rest of the housing develop-

blend with the wooded landscape, natural tones and curved

ment. It is developed in the form of a semicircle, which

forms mimic the bark of trees. The common area, entrances,

references the form of traditional tribal gatherings.

and building designs incorporate symbols and shapes that

express Passamaquoddy heritage and history.

GREEN

The buildings are oriented for maximum solar gain and

exposure, similar to Passamaquoddy traditional structures,

which took advantage of maximum solar exposure. The design

includes large overhangs and large south-facing windows in

each home to provide natural daylight and help reduce the

heat load in the winter. The homes also have high-efficiency

heating systems and airtight construction methods.

Photo: SNCC

NORTH

INE

4

DESIGN

MA

G +

TH,

OR

NNIN

5- 36"

A

(207)669-210

ADA

propane

tanks

UNIT

COLLABORATIVE

PL

T ELLSW

0 CELL

A

STREE

CTURE

) 664-056

IN

N GROUP

ITE

(207

IG

MA

CH

98

PROPANE

AR

SHED

DES

R=7'-10"

TWO BEDROOM ADA UNIT

THREE BEDROOM UNIT

TWO BEDROOM TYPE A UNIT

TWO BEDROOM UNIT

32'-0"

28'-0"

32'-0"

32'-0"

124'-0"

II

Typical Building Floor Plan 1 BUILDING 'B' FLOORPLAN

Drawing: Design Group Collaborative

A6.1

Scale: 1/8" = 1'-0"

OJECT

vation

eser

DE

PR

R

A Kikun

SIGN | LE

nt Pointsa

The homes are grouped four units to a building, minimizing impact on the site. The RH

Plea

staggered pattern allows for private entrances and backyard areas. Each building includes STORAGE SHEDS:

ADD ALT.

a combination of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. A lesson learned was to coordinate PPP

SSONS LEARNED

the impact of the development on the neighboring wetlands earlier in the process. The 36" MIN. ICE & WATER SHIELD

landscape design had to be modified so as not to impact we @ALL EA tlands VES & VALLEYS (TYP

, which w .)

as a good

Project:

environmental move, but it required the circular layout of the housing units to be altered and the tribal gathering area eliminated. If this impact had been realized earlier in the project, HM

the design could have been better coordinated with the wetlands.

PROVIDE END WALL STEP FLASHING

ale

as noted

y C

Sc

B

RAIN DIVERTER AT REAR DOORS (TYP)

8

HM

y C

n B

ons

11/08/0

ate

raw

evisi

D

D

R

Photo: Design Group Collaborative

11

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

'B'

N

G NS & PLA

PLAR F

UILDIN

OO

B OOL R

F

ENTRY PORCHES:

SOLAR PANELS:

ADD ALT.

ADD ALT.

2

BUILDING 'B' ROOFPLAN

A6.1

Scale: 1/8" = 1'-0"

90% REVIEW

A6.1

Plummer, ID

COEUR D’ALENE  | THE GATHERING PLACE

S

FEB 2

tar

Client/Developer:

Coeur d’Alene Tribal Housing Authority

Sustainability Contractor:

Pura Vida Homes LLC (Straw Bale Installation)

t o

Architect:

Thomas W. Angell, AIA

Site Design:

Taylor Engineering Inc.

f de

010

Contractor:

MDM Construction Inc.

Research + Collaborators:

University of Idaho’s Bioregional Planning &

sign pr

Engineer:

Taylor Engineering Inc.

Community Design Program

oce

SUPER-INSULA

ss

This 18-unit multifamily housing project was constructed using environmentally friendly natural building techniques. These straw bale buildings were designed in collaboration with the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Housing Authority (CDATHA) and tribal members, with initial research and engagement by the University of Idaho’s Bioregional Planning & Community Design Program. Prior to construction the TED

CDATHA demolished 12 existing lead and asbestos structures, and

salvaged a majority of timber for future reuse.

Photo: Tomas W. Angell

CORE PROJECT EMPHASES:

RESEARCH

DESIGN

BROWNFIELD DEVELOPMENT

SITE

COLLABORATION

Natural

Salvage

Health

Engagement

INNOVATION

Building

LANDSCAPE

CULTURE

LESSONS LEARNED

SUPER-INSULATED

GREEN

• The ability to be flexible and the involvement of

S

A

SUSTAINABLE MODEL

tar

UG 2

a good collaborator help the overall design and

IMPACT

t o

building process.

f c

010

TOTAL PROJECT COSTS:

ons

• High-quality housing projects can foster a sense

$4.5M

truction

of pride in everyday living.

TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST:

$4M

PER SQ FOOT:

$170

COST PER UNIT:

$222,000

BEST PRACTICES

TOTAL UNITS:

• Wood was salvaged from old structures for

18

creative reuse in future projects.

• Recovery ventilation combined with a super-

insulated, straw bale wall system lowers energy

costs significantly.

• Low-flow faucets, combined with ENERGY

STAR appliances and no- to low-volatile organic

compound materials, contribute to the greening of

a healthy living environment.

S

APRIL 2

ub

s

Multifamily

tantial c 011

omple

tion

Northwest

Photos: Tomas W. Angell

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

12

BEST PRACTICES |  SITE

How can thoughtful site planning sustain

cultural heritage and natural habitat?

Density

Densit

Habitat

Habit

Communit

C

y

ommunit

Pro

Pr ximit

o

y

ximit

SITE

Native American communities have long sustained a strong sense of place, identity, and community, even through major social and geographic upheavals. A native sense of place links the natural, physical world to cultural values, a strong cosmology, and an understanding that everything is interconnected. These core values help to link cultural sustainability with ecological sustainability.

Many of these projects exemplify place-based solutions, such as project locations and site planning that consider infrastructure, density, habitat protection, and affordability. In the tribal tradition, homes were typically rural, although due to many factors, tribes often gathered within a defined community commons area. The small land base of many reservations, combined with the high cost of infrastructure, is leading to a return to traditional arrangements of homes and community services in ways that are appropriate to each community. For example, Owe’neh Bupingeh is based on a long-term master land use plan, promoting compact development in the historic Pueblo core. Located in a high-altitude ponderosa forest, the I-Sah’-Din’-Dii Housing Project at Mescalero Apache exhibits a low-impact design that maintains a rural feel but places the homes closer together to reduce infrastructure costs and protect the natural habitat. The Navajo Housing Authority Planning Manual establishes standards for maintaining sustainability and affordability in appropriately planned developments across the Navajo Nation. Access to healthy food is an important aspect of site planning, and the Place of Hidden Waters is beginning to reap the rewards of onsite community gardens. Managing and protecting water through rain gardens and rainwater harvesting help conserve a precious resource for the future. The Place of Hidden Waters, Teekalet Village Housing, and Penobscot Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Homes are creatively sited housing that protects and celebrates natural habitats central to their respective lifeways and heritage.

13

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

Nageezi, NM

NAVAJO  |  NAGEEZI HOUSE

De

FEB 2

sign pr

Client:

Mary and Kee Augustine

Design/Build Team:

Daniel Glenn, Design Director

Architect/Developer:

Arizona State University (ASU) Stardust Center

Ernesto Fonseca, Construction/Energy Modeling

005

Development Partner:

oc

Navajo Housing Authority

ASU Students of Architecture: Christopher Billey, Tanya

e

Yellowhair, and Jason Croxton

ss begins

TRIB

AL ENTERPRISE

The Nageezi House is a sustainable and affordable design/build project of the Arizona State University (ASU) Stardust Center. It was the first home to be built using Navajo FlexCrete, a subsidiary of the Navajo Housing Authority. The home was designed and built with a Navajo elder family in Nageezi, NM with a team of professionals and students from ASU’s department of Architecture. The project was a De

MA

collaboration with the Navajo Housing Authority.

sign/

Y 2

005

build begins

Photo: Daniel Glenn

CORE PROJECT EMPHASES:

CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE

DESIGN

MULTIGENERATIONAL CLUSTER

SITE

NAVAJO FLEXCRETE

Tribal

Cultural

Passive

Partnerships

INNOVATION

Materials

Form

Solar

INNOVATING TRADITION

CULTURE

LESSONS LEARNED

PASSIVE SOLAR

• The collaboration between a tribal housing

GREEN

authority and a university can help to

MODEL FOR NATION

IMPACT

S

A

ub

UG 2

provide new models for housing.

stan

• Culturally relevant, sustainable housing can

005

tial c

be adopted on a larger scale for new housing

TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST:

$130,000*

omple

developments.

COST PER SQ FOOT:

$100

tion

COST PER UNIT:

$130,000

BEST PRACTICES

TOTAL UNITS:

1

• The project incorporated passive cooling

ventilation and passive solar heating.

• Rainwater is harvested with a 1,200 gallon

Oc

OC

underground cistern.

c

T 2

upied and monit

• The house is designed to reflect and

005

celebrate traditional Navajo culture.

• The project used tribal materials for

construction—Navajo FlexCrete.

oring begins

*Note that this project had

many student volunteers, and their

time has not been accounted for in the project costs

Monit

OC

Single Family

T 2

oring c

006

omple

Southwest

te

Photo: Daniel Glenn

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

14

NAGEEZI HOUSE

CUL

The house is designed to reflect and celebrate traditional Navajo culture. The home’s innovative design reflects the traditional TURE

structures of the Navajo, including the hooghan (home) and the chahash’oh (shade structure). Both Mary and Kee Augustine grew up in traditional Navajo hooghans. For the past 40 years, however, they had been living in a conventional western home and had grown accustomed to that lifestyle. In consultation with Mary and Kee, a design was developed that honored and reflected Navajo traditions but provides the size, privacy, and compartmentalization of conventional housing. Like a hooghan, the doorway faces east, and circulation through the home is in a clockwise flow, from the more public areas (living/kitchen/dining) toward the private rooms (bathroom and bedrooms). These rooms wrap around an octagonal courtyard, designed to reflect the Navajo hooghan in form and in the materials. Living, kitchen, and dining spaces are combined into one large, south-facing room to allow for larger family gatherings and to reflect the shared space of the hooghan. A shade structure on the south face protects the southern windows and deck from the summer sun and is designed to reflect the traditional chahash’oh that the Navajo use as a summer shade structure and cooking area. At the center of the east-facing courtyard, an outdoor fire pit represents the fire at the heart of the hooghan. Windows are placed to provide views through the house to all four cardinal directions from the courtyard.

Photo: Daniel Glenn

GREEN

The Nageezi House was designed as a Leadership in Energy and

Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes project during the pilot phase of the program, although it was never certified as a LEED Homes project.

In the building of this affordable and sustainable demonstration home, several of the green strategies were intended to be replicable and low-cost approaches, including building orientation, passive cooling/

ventilation, and passive solar heating. Following construction, the home was monitored for a full year to evaluate its performance with embedded temperature sensors in the walls and on the interior and exterior of the home, which demonstrated that overall energy use in the home is reduced 50 percent from a conventional home. The site is not irrigated; a gravelled surface surrounds the home.

Model by Daniel Glenn

15

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

Kingston, WA

PORT GAMBLE S’KLALLAM TRIBE  | TEEKALET VILLAGE

C

2

ommunit

009

Client:

Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe

Landscape Architect:

Brian McCormack, ASLA

Developer:

Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe Housing Authority

Civil Engineer:

Ahmis Loving, Loving Engineering & Consulting, P.S. Inc.

Architect:

Roy Hellwig, Tormod Hellwig, LLC

Partners:

Common Ground

y de

Contractor:

Jack Grinnell, JM Grinnell Contracting Inc.

sign

HERIT

The Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribal (PGST) Housing Authority designed and built the Teekalet Village at a key location adjacent to historic AGE PRO

salmon fishing grounds on the Puget Sound. Site features include a community building, a playground, and connections to walking/

hiking trails. This housing was built to replace asbestos-contaminated TE

houses on the same site. The site was carefully designed to protect a C

salmon spawning creek, a tribal hatchery, and the historic waterfront TION

at Point Julia.

Photo: Nathaniel Corum

CORE PROJECT EMPHASES:

WALKABLE

DESIGN

C

2

ons

010

PROTECTED HATCHERY

SITE

truction s

H2O MANAGEMENT

Density

Proximity

Traditional

Habitat

INNOVATION

Lifeways

MEDICINE PATH

t

CULTURE

ar

LESSONS LEARNED

t

WASHINGTON EVERGREEN STDS

s

• Good design can achieve appropriate density

GREEN

TOWARDS FUTURE

in communities with histories of sparse

IMPACT

settlement.

TOTAL PROJECT COST:

• Walkable communities can be anchored with

$4.45M

access to key recreational, cultural, and

TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST:

historic sites.

$3.5M

COST PER SQ FOOT:

• New housing projects can help preserve

$148

traditional heritage.

COST PER UNIT:

$82,000-$177,000

BEST PRACTICES

TOTAL UNITS:

• The design/build team included a S’Klallam

17

tribal member contractor and a local

S

2

architect.

ub

011

st

• A playground, pathways, native plants, and

an

porches help to form a cohesive community

tial c

atmosphere.

omple

• Landscape and water flow management

tion

protect an adjacent salmon creek

and hatchery.

Single Family

JAN 2

011

Northwest

Drawing: Tormod Hellwig, LLC

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

16

TEEKALET VILLAGE

C

Many of the approximately 1,300 tribal members of the

ONTEX

Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe (PGST) live on the shores

D

Because sunlight is scarce in the Pacific Northwest, during the AY LIGHTING

of Port Gamble Bay on the Kitsap Peninsula. A ferry and

winter, architects designed the houses with smaller building

T

short drive from Seattle, these 2 miles of waterfront are

envelopes to allow light to enter from two sides. The porches

part of the reservation. Although historically a Salish-

were also equipped with transparent roofing allowing more light speaking people, the PGST were well established in the

through. On the south side of the homes, shading elements

Puget Sound basin by 1400 BCE. Today, the S’Klallam

keep the homes from overheating.

people continue to practice the traditions that shaped

their culture and lives, including fishing, hunting, singing,

and dancing. The tribal website makes it clear that the

PGST are working hard to build a better community for

future generations.

From my house, I can walk right

DE

A pleasing cluster of homes in a variety of layouts and

down to the beach. I can walk to the

SIGN

colors is anchored by a community center and an access

loop. Project materials include cement fibre board

tribal administration; we have an

sheathing, composition shingle roofing, and timber porches.

exercise room that we can all walk

to, right by the health clinic and the

dental offices. We’re pretty much

C

Several tribal offices and businesses are within walking

OMMUNITY

close to everything, except the

distance of the site and an exemplary community center,

store, which is a bit of a walk.

composed of a culturally appropriate longhouse, library,

housing authority, other tribal offices, and new school.

- Joanne DeCoteau, resident tribal member

2 1/2 Bedrooms | 2 Story | Floor Plans

Drawings: Tormod Hellwig, LLC

Access to

Low-flow

daylight/

fixtures

compact plan

Low-flow

fixtures

Super-insulated

Porch covering

Open floor plan

accommodates

gatherings

First Floor

Second Floor

SITE

A beautiful bluff above a fragile salmon creek, the site was previously developed in the 1970s with five buildings containing asbestos, all of which were in various states of disrepair. After evaluation, it was determined these structures had served their functional lives and it would be cost prohibitive to renovate them, so they were abated and demolished. The Teekalet project is considered an infill development because it increased the density of the site, with 17 units and a community center in the same footprint area. To protect the stream from runoff, landscape features include a comprehensive system of rain gardens, permeable paving, swales, and native plants. A path network, water access, and a playground connect to community facilities and shoreline hiking.

17

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

TEEKALET VILLAGE

DE

Well-proportioned homes are in a colorful and cozy

GREEN

The homes feature low-to-no-volatile organic compound

SIGN

circle that features central access, a community center,

(VOC) products, low-flow fixtures, and ENERGY STAR

and walkable paths to community services and natural

appliances. Energy efficient features are extensive, including resources. Pathways, native plants, and a playground form

being photovoltaic (PV) ready, incorporating passive solar and a cohesive community atmosphere, and landscape and

heat-recovery ventilation, as well as instant hot water, and

waterflow management protects an adjacent salmon creek

programmable thermostats. The owners were all provided

and hatchery from negative impacts of the development.

with a manual and orientation to the green features.

Local Architect knows

contractor well

General Contractor

is a S'Klallam tribal

member

GC

Architect

TRIBE

PGSTHA

Boys & Girls Club

Boys & Girls

collaborated on

“medicine trail”

Club

Project relationships diagram

Photo: Nathaniel Corum

PROCE

Through a process centered on a series of community

C

According to S’Klallam oral tradition, the level sandy spit

UL

meetings, the design/build team worked with the Port

TURE

chosen for the mill site was the ancestral village known as

Gamble S’Klallam Tribe (PGST) Housing Authority, tribal

“Teekalet,” which is a Klallam/Chimakum word that describes

SS

members, and the PGST Tribal Council to arrive at a design

“the shining sand in full sunlight.” Fireplaces are important

approach and construction imperatives. The architectural

to tribal members, as are places to store firewood for backup

program stemmed from community input and tribal

heating and ceremonial use. The site is just upstream of a

members’ needs and preferences, including large kitchens,

tribal salmon hatchery and adjacent to historic sites, including ample storage, multilevel designs, and “half-rooms” that

Point Julia on the Puget Sound.

could alternatively serve as an office or nursery.

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

18

TEEKALET VILLAGE

INNO

A dynamic site water system protects the salmon creek,

VISION

Common Ground performed a study and determined a clear

hatchery, and Puget Sound waters below. The site design

need for affordable housing, confirming the tribe’s recognition V

that there was not enough housing for low-income community

A

by civil engineer Ahmis Loving and Nez Perce tribal

TION

member and landscape architect Brian McCormack

members, and that a priority was healthy homes in a dense

features water management, pervious paving, swales,

configuration close to community facilities. The Tribal Council and rain gardens to arrive at a resilient habitat for newly

tasked the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe (PGST) Housing Au-

introduced native plants that protect the nearby creek

thority with developing the project.

shed and allow for access to community services, fishing,

recreation, and play.

ITER

The design team was provided with information from

community meetings, where tribal members communicat-

ATION

ed the need for a large gathering areas. This was provided

through the inclusion of a community center, indoor/

outdoor social spaces, open floor plans for kitchen, living,

dining, and porches.

4% Grant writing

1.5%

fees and attorney

Loan costs

Photo: Roy Hellwig

Photo: Roy Hellwig

5.5% Site architect

2%

and engineering fees

Furnishings

8%

1% Site assessment

Contingency

and surveying fees

We’ve learned from this project

that we have to make better

use of the land. We have to

increase density in order to meet

current and future needs for

housing, and of course we have

to continue to develop projects

that are environmentally friendly,

78%

energy-efficient and have durable

Construction costs

materials. -Chris Placentia

Project cost breakdown

LE

As a result of the Teekalet project process, the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe and housing SS

authority are now knowledgeable about providing high-quality, green housing at a higher ONS LEARNED

density. The standards for housing and the ability to produce it have been raised in the community, and many tribal members have become more comfortable with denser housing, especially when it is within close proximity to key services and activities. The sense in the course of interviews is that when future residents and other tribal members are

/

consulted on design elements, a better product results. The close-knit, local design/build CONCL

team also assured close community contact throughout the process, addressing concerns as they arose before problems became entrenched. There is now great confidence in the USION

community’s ability to provide for its own housing needs, paving the way to more successful projects in the future.

Photo: Nathaniel Corum

19

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

Ukiah, CA

PINOLEVILLE POMO NATION HOMES

R

2

eque

008

Client:

Pinoleville Pomo Nation

Partners:

Community Assessment of Renewable Energy &

Contractor:

Pinoleville Pomo Nation Housing Authority

Sustainability (CARES)

st f

Consulting Engineer:

or s

Laco Associates

University of California, Berkeley (UCB)

Development Center for Appropriate Technology

ervic

(DCAT), Vital Systems (Natural Building)

e

TE

s

CHNOL

In collaboration with Pinoleville Pomo Nation (PPN), the Community Assessment of Renewable Energy & Sustainability (CARES) and the Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Architecture at the

OG

University of California, Berkeley (UCB) created ambitious, cultur-Y TR

ally inspired, efficient model homes featuring natural materials and integrated renewable energy systems. As the tribe continues working UCB de

F

ANSFER

toward culturally appropriate housing and facilities, these homes ALL 2

demonstrate ways to provide for future needs.

sign c

008

ollabor

Photo: SNCC

CORE PROJECT EMPHASES:

PARTICIPATORY PROCESS

ation

DESIGN

INFILL ADJACENT TO FACILITIES

SITE

TRIBAL BUILDING CODES

Building

Natural

Partnership

Engagement

INNOVATION

Codes

Building

TRADITIONAL MATERIALS AND FORMS

CULTURE

LESSONS LEARNED

NATURAL MATERIALS

• Tribes with access to technical assistance and control

GREEN

De

SPRING

over their funding can achieve green, culturally

PROTOTYPES FOR REPLICATION

sign phas

IMPACT

appropriate housing even after years of being

2

marginalized.

TOTAL PROJECT COST:

010

e c

• Building multiple prototype versions allows for side-

$1.3M

omple

by-side testing and research for future performance

TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST:

$950,000

optimization.

t

COST PER SQ FOOT:

ed

• New housing projects can preserve cultural and

$230

traditional values.

COST PER UNIT:

$475,000

• Developing a culturally informed community

TOTAL UNITS:

engagement process helped develop tribal green

2

building codes.

S

SEP

BEST PRACTICES

ub

s

• Renewable energy-efficient systems were co-designed

t

T 2

an

and built by tribal citizens.

tial c

012

• Rainwater catchment and greywater systems reduce

omple

vulnerability to water shortages and support onsite

plantings.

tion

An

2013

ticip

Single Family

ated c

omple

tion

Northwest

Photo: SNCC

Photo: SNCC

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

20

PINOLEVILLE POMO NATION HOMES

INNO

Several key partnerships made this project unique

PROCE

Community engagement was important throughout the

and helped to assure its success. A collaborative de-

design/build process. The co-design approach developed after

VA

sign approach allowed for technology transfer in many

a request from PPN for University of California, Berkeley,

TION

S

areas: education about passive solar, water harvesting,

S

technical assistance. PPN was most knowledgeable about their

cob, earth plasters, and stone masonry. The culturally

Nation and needs, and the University of California, Berkeley,

informed design of the houses reflect a Pinoleville Pomo

had specific technical skills to add to achieve goals. One

Nation (PPN) preference for traditional curving and non-

challenge in the process was to determine the tribe’s goals.

linear forms in their structures. The use of straw bale and

UCB/CARES researched methods of engagement to arrive at

natural materials and finishes enhanced this preference.

a framework for collaboration while helping to define what

The design went through several phases of revision by

sustainability means to Pinoleville Pomo Nation community

local builders and natural-building facilitators. In a paral-

citizens. Working with the DCAT and others, the tribe has

lel process, the PPN collaborated with the Development

developed a framework of tribal green building codes to

Center for Appropriate Technology (DCAT) to produce a

assert cultural sovereignty, address tribal priorities, and build tribal green building code framework in 2011.

capacity.

Putting in the straw bale brought

a lot of people together: tribal,

nation, university. People coming

together to build homes.

- Nathan Rich, PPN resident

A lowered floor area centers each

traditional home and allows for

ceremony.

Four wood columns support a clerestory

vault and emphasize the importance of

the cardinal directions.

Natural materials stand out, including:

earth plaster, straw bales, stone, and

abalone shell.

Open plan allows for diverse

gatherings and flexible use.

Curved walls reference traditional Pomo

architecture.

3 Bedrooms | 1 Story | Floor Plan

Drawing: Pinoleville Pomo Nation Housing Authority

GREEN

These unique houses feature energy-efficient systems, straw bale walls, earthen plasters, no-to-low volatile organic compound paints and stains, ground-source heat pumps, solar photovoltaic arrays, solar hot water collectors, greywater irrigation, composting toilets, and rain-catchment systems. Efficient and renewable energy systems reduce dependence on outside service providers and demonstrate a tribal preference for clean energy. These homes are designed to conserve resources with passive heating and cooling considerations, mold- and pest-resistant wall sections, and emissions-free heating and cooling system. Rainwater-catchment and greywater systems reduce vulnerability to water

shortages and support onsite gardens and landscaping.

Photo: SNCC

21

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

Indian Island, ME

PENOBSCOT INDIAN NATION  | PENOBSCOT LEED HOMES 

C

2

ommunit

0

Client:

Penobscot Indian Nation

Contractor Phase I:

DP Porter Contractors, Inc.

07

Developer:

Penobscot Indian Nation Housing Authority

Contractor Phase II:

Penobscot Indian Nation Housing Authority

Architect of Record:

Dan Miller, AIA

y de

Architecture Firm:

WBRC Architects Engineers

sign pr

RE

oce

UNITING HERIT

Through collaboration with local lenders and the U.S. government, ss

tribal member home ownership is on the rise. The Penobscot Indian Nation Housing Authority (PINHA) built 12 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold single-family homes. The project has helped bring young, low-income families back to the community, reuniting them with a strong cultural and traditional heritage. The A

project features a nature path, native plants, a boardwalk network GE

connecting to community facilities, sweat lodges, and a ceremonial multi-use space.

Photo: SNCC

CORE PROJECT EMPHASES:

CLUSTERED

DESIGN

C

JUL

ons

CONNECTING TO NATURE

Y 2

SITE

truction s

TRIBAL LENDING

008

Health

Partnership

Traditional

Habitat

INNOVATION

Lifeways

SITE FEATURES

t

CULTURE

ar

LESSONS LEARNED

t

LEED GOLD

s

GREEN

• Working in a collaborative process helped to

REUNITING FAMILIES

identify the power of partnerships and come

IMPACT

up with creative solutions beyond providing

housing.

TOTAL PROJECT COST:

• Incorporating cultural elements and natural

$3.1M

resources in the site design helped to create

TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST:

$2.84M

a beautiful environment and educate families

about the tribe’s heritage.

COST PER SQ FOOT:

$138

COST PER UNIT:

BEST PRACTICES

$180,000

• Tailored model lending policies that were

TOTAL UNITS:

adopted by the tribe helped families to return

12

and live on tribal trust land.

S

2

ub

009

• Comprehensive site planning met community

stan

goals for enhanced green space, outdoor use,

tial c

and an integrated trail system.

omple

• Tribal members led the project, chose the team,

and helped to determine home designs and

tion

cultural features.

Single Family

Oc

2010

cupied

Northeast

Photo: SNCC

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

22

PENOBSCOT LEED HOMES

C

The Penobscot Indian Nation Housing Authority (PINHA)

C

The homes bridge nature and community, with pathways

ONTEX

UL

project is located on Indian Island in the Penobscot River.

TURE

to ceremonial sites and access to river and woods. Tribal

Indian Island is the traditional center of a group of clans

designs are cut into local woodwork on homes of natural

T

who lived along the river, and is connected by a single

and earth tones, while trails link to town, to nature, and to a bridge to Old Town, Maine. The homes are framed by

ceremonial area that is a circle of standing stones and sweat

woods, with strong connections to cultural and historic

lodges. Tribal artists created stone monuments along trails,

locations, and by the cultural focus of the river, boating,

and the Tribal Cultural & Natural Resources team worked with and recreation activities.

the Boys and Girls Club to locate and illustrate indigenous

medicinal plants.

Photo: Richard Neill

The people that own these homes

are young families with children,

they are people who live alone,

there’s one woman that’s in the

medical field, there’s an elder who

has older children, there are elder

couples. You know, it has served

the need of quite a variety of

families. I think that’s really good...

a lot of families are reunited.

-Cynthia LeMay, Penobscot Indian

Nation Housing Authority

Photo: SNCC

SITE

The site sits on a rocky ledge forming the heart of the island and is located conveniently between tribal services and community facilities. The 12-acre site exemplifies a tribal conservation strategy to place 12 homes on 1/4 acre lots and leave 75 percent protected as green open space for community use and for cultural education. There is now a short walk to the school, elder center, tribal offices, cultural and ceremonial areas, and water. An accessible, raised boardwalk protects habitat and acts as a nature trail to celebrate and conserve natural resources. It is said that this is a special place, where the diversity of plants live together with areas for ceremonies and gatherings.

Photo: SNCC

23

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

PENOBSCOT LEED HOMES

DE

The development consists of 11 three-bedroom homes

GREEN

The LEED Gold housing includes radiant hydronic floors, solar

SIGN

at 1,265 sq ft and one four-bedroom home at 1,478 sq ft.

hot water systems, blown-in insulation, and efficient framing.

Compact one-story homes line an access road and then

The many regional materials (within 500 miles) featured in-

transition to a trail network leading to a ceremonial circle.

clude local wood such as cherry cabinets and maple flooring.

The homes feature inset porches for some relief from the

Native, ceremonial, useful, and edible plants are cultivated

basic rectangular footprint. Their siting amidst the Maine

along a “medicine trail” network that supports circulation,

woods and dramatic topography make the setting special.

education, and recreation.

BEDROOM

BEDROOM

BEDROOM

Photo: SNCC

MECH

DINING

Compact, insulated, and tight

envelope emphasizes energy

economy.

KITCHEN

Solar hot water heaters add

to home efficiency.

LIVING

Photo: Richard Neill

ROOM

Open plan living and dining

allows for gatherings and

cultural events.

Eagle symbolized in rafter tail

detail.

3 Bedrooms | 1 Story | Floor Plan

Photo: Richard Neill

PROCE

Tribal members were responsible for the vision of the

IMP

The original goal was to provide affordable housing in a chal-

project, and participatory design was a primary directive.

A

lenging financial and environmental climate. A small com-

Multiple public hearings and design charrettes included

C

munity came together to cooperate and innovate to meet the

S

T

S

homeowners who met with the design team several times

housing needs. Ultimately, the project‘s impact went beyond

for 1-day workshops. According to architect Daniel Miller,

housing to include infrastructure and community service

the community was focused on LEED certification and on

improvements, and cultural and environmental linkages. A

developing an efficient floor plan that was “sustainable

growing network of collaborators pulled in unison to achieve

and also met the needs of the families.”

meaningful and effective use of the core of the islet.

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

24

PENOBSCOT LEED HOMES

VISION

The Penobscot Indian Nation Housing Authority (PINHA),

PAR

A tribal committee was created to help address the develop-

with tribal project lead Craig Sanborn, brought together

ment of more financing choices for tribal members. They

TICIP

elders, children, future homeowners, tribal agencies, and

worked with leaders in the tribal community to negotiate with

banks to create a common vision. A primary focus was

A

federal agencies, resulting in tailored model lending docu-

bringing young tribal members back to live on Indian

TION

ments that were acceptable and adopted by the Tribe through

Island through the provision of high-quality, affordable

tribal legislation. The PINHA worked with lenders to conduct

homes. A dedicated internal team formed of PINHA staff,

tribal mortgage and home buyer workshops. New financial

a grant writer, and an architect set a goal to create a cred-

frameworks were created and cultural pathways were re-

ible and attractive vision for the community. Through this

established.

committed partnership, they obtained commitments from

tribal leadership, departmental directors, and local and

federal agencies.

No area on the island was available

for traditional tribal ceremony.

Our tribe was the center of an

Federal

inter-tribal alliance, in existence

PINHA

+

for thousands of years. There

Local

are stories about where the

Tribal

community meeting area was. The

Leaders

Banks

ceremonial grounds, as a result

of initiating the trail, are restored

to be a gathering spot. You’ll see

that there are 23 stones, which

Grant

represent the original clans. Every

Tribal

Writer

clan has a presence. It’s an area

Tribal

Families

that’s available to anyone: the

Depts

Native American Church, there’s

a site for women, there’s a site for

men. Those are being used much

more frequently now and continue

Architect

to grow. That’s opened up a whole

new aspect of wellness in the

community that feeds the whole

Contractor

person.

- Craig Sanborn, Project Leader

LE

What really stands out on Penobscot Indian Island is that a community was able to take bold SSONS LEARNED and creative steps to ensure their future resilience. Cultural, social, economic, and traditional values were layered over the land with a deep historic reverence for the tribal members of the Penobscot Indian Nation. Persistent collaboration among community members of all ages, from within tribal government and local informal groups, arrived at a shared vision; cultural protocols were valued alongside a range of financial and design efficiencies. Lessons learned

/C

include the importance of developing model documents, including construction contracts ONCL

with consequences for delays. It was also important to phase future developments to allow for flexibility and infrastructure placement. Although for this project, the initial cost of “going USION

green” was more expensive, the integrated design process allowed for incorporation of traditional values and is more attractive to funders and community members.

Photo: Richard Neill

25

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

Mescalero, NM

MESCALERO APACHE TRIBE  | I-SAH’-DIN’-DII, PHASE I

De

NO

v

Client/Developer:

Mescalero Apache Housing Authority

Syndicator:

Raymond James Financial, Inc.

V 2

elopmen

Architect:

Atkin Olshin Schade Architects

Partnering Agencies:

New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, U.S.

006

Contractor:

Pavilion Construction

Department of Housing and Urban Development,

t t

Development Consultan t:

Concept Consulting, Inc.

Bureau of Indian Affairs, Indian Health Services

eam

LO

S

J

The I-Sah’-Din’-Dii Housing Project, Phase I, is a rural development ubmit LIHT

W IMP

AN 2

of 30 low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) units and a community center that are located within a beautiful, high-altitude ponderosa 00

A

pine forest in southern New Mexico. Energy savings, occupant health, 7

C

C applic

T DE

and reduced impact on the surrounding forest were primary goals of the project. The project team also compared different wall systems SIGN

to determine the most cost-effective approach to a tight building ation

envelope for use in future projects. I-Sah’-Din’-Dii is a model for green, context-appropriate tribal housing.

LIHT

MA

Photo: Atkin Olshin Shade Architects

Y 2

C a

CORE PROJECT EMPHASES:

00

PASSIVE SOLAR

war

DESIGN

7

d | De

SITE

sign pr

COMPARISON OF WALL SYSTEMS

Passive

Envelope

Natural

Habitat

INNOVATION

Solar

Ventilation

oc

HABITAT PROTECTION

e

CULTURE

ss

LESSONS LEARNED

MORTGAGE FINANCE AUTHORITY GREEN GUIDELINES

GREEN

• A rural atmosphere can be maintained through

RURAL GREEN

thoughtful site planning.

IMPACT

• Good design can help reduce construction and

energy costs.

TOTAL PROJECT COST:

$7.4M

• Engaging all project partners at the outset of a

S

MARCH 2

TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST:

yndic

project enhances collaborative performance.

$6.5M

COST PER SQ FOOT:

at

• Structural insulated panels (SIPs) for wall

or clo

$165

008

construction are a cost-effective, green

alternate to wood stud wall construction.

COST PER UNIT:

sing | C

$214,500*

BEST PRACTICES

TOTAL UNITS:

30

ons

• The site plan was developed using low-impact

truction begins

development principles. For example, compact

housing allowed for significant protection of

adjacent habitat.

• Construction followed the New Mexico Mortgage

Finance Authority Green Guidelines.

• All of the homes are oriented for passive solar,

with large windows and appropriately sized

overhangs on the south.

S

MA

ub

* Costs shown include significant site

s

Y 2

improvements for future phases, including a new lift station.

tan

009

tial c

omple

tion

Single Family

Ribbon c

JUNE 2

ut

009

ting

Southwest

Photo: Atkin Olshin Shade Architects

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

26

I-SAH’-DIN’-DII, PHASE I

SITE

The site was designed using a combination of strategies

DE

The homes incorporate passive solar design and orientation

to incorporate walkability, low-impact development, and

SIGN

to reduce energy costs. The annual sun angles for Mescalero,

passive solar design. Low-impact development principles

New Mexico, were analyzed and appropriately sized over-

are based on minimizing impact on the natural environ-

hangs were built. This design approach allows the lower win-

ment, such as siting roads and building pads according

ter sun to radiate into the home and the higher summer sun

to existing terrain and topography, limiting the area of

to be blocked out. The combination of overhangs, concrete

disturbance around construction, clustering development,

floor slab, and large southern windows, along with other de-

and designing roads and walkways that limit the velocity

sign strategies such as a well-insulated building envelope and of runoff and offsite erosion.

wood stoves, helps reduce winter heating bills.

I’ve seen a lot of affordable housing

Summer Sun

Winter Sun

developments over the years, but this

one was almost overwhelming in its

beauty, the location, and the amount

of work that went into the project.

- Julie Gunter, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

Drawings: Atkin Olshin Shade Architects

Photo: Atkin Olshin Shade Architects

GREEN

To protect resident health, no carpets were installed, and low-volatile organic compound paints, sealants, and adhesives, as well as non-urea-formaldehyde cabinets were specified.

Structural insulated panels (SIPs) were appropriately specified to ensure that non-toxic, urea-formaldehyde-free adhesives were used in the sheathing. ENERGY STAR appliances, passive solar design, and a tight building envelope were addressed for energy efficiency, with R-26 wall insulation and R-40 roof insulation. Passive ventilation helps maintain thermal comfort in the summer by bringing air in through low windows and releasing warm air in high clerestory windows. Water conservation includes low-flow fixtures and rain barrels to capture roof water. Half of the homes were built with SIPs and the other half with conventional wood frame construction. Post-occupancy utility data shows that the SIP walls are not only cost competitive, but they also provide a tighter building envelope. Site disturbance was limited to 25 feet from homes.

Photo: Atkin Olshin Shade Architects

27

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

Busby and Lame Deer, MT

NORTHERN CHEYENNE | STRAW BALE HOMES

Americ

1999

Client:

Northern Cheyenne elders and tribal members

Design Collaborators:

Community members and homeowners

Developer:

Red Feather Development Group

Systems Engineer:

Art Fust, P.E., Energy A.D.

an Indian S

Design + Build:

Nathaniel Corum, Mark Jensen, Sergio Palleroni Other Partners: U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development,

Contractor:

Red Feather Development Group + volunteers

Indian Health Services, Enterprise Rose Architectural

Fellowship

us

V

tainable Housing Initiativ

OL

Working with Northern Cheyenne tribal members, Red Feather Development UNTEER BUILD

Group (RFDG) has developed a cooperative design/build. The homes are designed in collaboration with low-income first-time homeowners and built through donations and volunteer efforts. Typically building one house each year, RFDG has created homes with several Northern Cheyenne families and initiated a similar program with the Hopi in Arizona. These load-bearing straw bale homes represent a climate-appropriate, super-insulated response to the Northern Plains’ winter conditions.

e launched

Photo: Michael Rosenberg

CORE PROJECT EMPHASES:

INTEGRATED

DESIGN

ORIENTATION

SITE

VOLUNTEER BUILD

Natural

Training

Partnership Engagement

INNOVATION

Building

COMMUNITY DIALOGUE

CULTURE

LESSONS LEARNED

SUPER-INSULATED

• Culturally appropriate features can be easily

GREEN

MODEL FOR DEVELOPMENT

incorporated into new housing through dialogue

IMPACT

with residents.

C

2

ons

001-PRE

• Innovative and climate-appropriate heating

truction

systems result from working closely with project

TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST:

$1.1M*

engineers.

SENT

COST PER SQ FOOT:

$108*

• Volunteer-built projects need to be well

coordinated but provide savings on labor.

COST PER UNIT:

$151,395*

BEST PRACTICES

TOTAL UNITS:

7

• Cultural elements include east-facing doors,

large kitchens for gatherings, locating windows

for key views and privacy concerns, and

designing accents specific to each family.

• Radiant heat and heat-recovery ventilation

combined with a super-insulated straw bale wall

system lowers energy costs significantly.

• Community outreach is key, especially when

combined with volunteer labor.

*Project was subsidized by volunteer

labor and donated materials.

Single Family

Ongoing

2013

Northern Plains

Photo: Skip Baumhower

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

28

STRAW BALE HOMES

INNO

The Straw Bale Construction Internship (SBCI) provides

GREEN

The Red Feather Development Group (RFDG) employs green

paid training for tribal members to learn and utilize

approaches where possible without sacrificing efficiency,

VA

construction and project management skills. SBCI equips

cost-effectiveness, or ease of construction/maintenance.

TION

tribal members with the necessary skills to address

Straw bale is suited well to the community/volunteer build

long-term housing needs in their communities. Equally im-

approach and represents a local, renewable, non-toxic and

portant, the vocational skills participants learned to help

carbon-sequestering material. RFDG typically builds a super-

pave the way for future employment opportunities. The

insulated, load-bearing straw bale envelope atop a thickened-

SBCI program addresses the need for safe and affordable

edge high-volume fly ash concrete foundation. Stained

tribal housing by combining sustainable home construc-

concrete floors avoid many interior pollution issues and

tion technology with hands-on, paid construction training.

typically contain radiant floor systems. Other green features

The program equips tribal members with the skills to ad-

include: solar PV and/or hot water, post-consumer attic

dress long-term housing needs in their communities while

insulation (newspaper), rainwater harvesting, efficient fixtures strengthening future employment opportunities.

and appliances, local wood, and low/no VOC paints and stains

Standardization and

C

Culturally appropriate features connected with these

UL

materials analysis

TURE

Northern Cheyenne homes include east-facing doors to

yields economies,

face the rising sun, large kitchens open to living areas for

efficiencies, and

celebrations and gatherings, and design accents preferred by

reduced waste.

individual tribal member families. Cultural features include

site orientation and location adjustments, location of windows to control key views and privacy concerns, shade structures

Pre-manufactured

and covered entries, building portions made of salvage

components: trusses,

materials, live-edge wood porch columns and tribal and family

cores, appliances

designs such as rafter profile details. Such features reflect

respect for native-to-place materials.

Protective

stucco plaster

Super-insulating

local, structural

straw bales

Radiant floor

heating system

Frost-protected

shallow foundation

saves concrete

cost and adjacent

trees

Exploded perspective

Drawing by Nathaniel Corum and Corbin Playes

Photo: Skip Baumhower

IMP

Though the number of homes needed on the Northern Plains is very high, the Red AC

Feather process has been an effective and scalable path to incremental development.

T

The impact of this work goes far beyond the seven houses constructed. Red Feather shows that continuing to work with the same community yields results over time. The cultural bridges built between volunteers, students, RFDG staff, and tribal members are lasting and have incredible value. Also, producing publications, curricula, and workshops alongside homes has had wide-ranging effects. In one case a group of tribal members in Yakima, Washington, used the construction handbook to create a house for themselves without RFDG assistance.

Photo: Skip Baumhower

29

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

INNOVATION  |  BEST PRACTICES

What inno

W

v

hat inno ativ

v

e thinking is needed

ativ

to help build sus

t

t

o help build sus ainable and he

t

alth

ainable and he

y

alth

neighborhoods?

neighborhoods

Partnership

Training

Enterprise

Material

INNO

Many of the project teams featured here were clearly determined to build new models of housing specific to their communities, exhibiting a high degree of innovation demonstrated in various ways, including new partnerships, innovative technologies, research, VATION

and creative financing. Some development teams reached out to establish partnerships and collaborations that became critical for their success. The Apsáalooke (Crow) Tribe partnered with the University of Colorado Boulder to develop and test an earth block house made with native earth and built by a tribal workforce. The Pinoleville Pomo Nation collaborated with many partners to achieve a prototype home and develop tribally based building codes. The Nageezi and Guadalupe homes, which the Arizona State University Stardust Center helped to design and build, are desert-appropriate homes using Navajo FlexCrete, a Navajo tribal enterprise. Many of these partnerships included a high level of analysis and research on new and appropriate materials. Straw bale homes at Northern Cheyenne are part of a larger Red Feather Development Group initiative, building super-insulated housing through all volunteer builds. The Owe’neh Bupingeh Rehabilitation Project incorporates new technologies to preserve and stabilize ancient adobe homes, with an education and research component informed by cultural leaders and homeowners. Many of these projects were built using multiple funding sources—some as many as 13. They often utilized the Native American Housing Assistance and Self Determination Act (NAHASDA) funding to creatively leverage additional resources. The Ysleta del Sur Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Pueblo Homes project was the first tribal LIHTC project in Texas, which required a high degree of partnership-building and tenacity. Penobscot succeeded in its goal to design new financing products so young families could move back to tribal land and participate in their cultural heritage.

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

30

BEST PRACTICES |  CULTURE

How do culture and heritage impact

the way we build housing?

Heritage

Gathering

Off-Grid

Traditional

Lifeways

CUL

These featured projects demonstrate that affordable, cost-effective, and healthy housing can be specific to each culture, place, and TURE

climate. Most of the projects that incorporated culturally based design strategies did so through a strong community-engagement process, meeting with various user groups, including potential residents, community members, elders, youth, and cultural leaders.

In the Penobscot Nation, such meetings helped define not just the tribe’s housing needs but also its health and wellness needs, together with a stronger connection to cultural heritage. The Penobscot decided to incorporate a trails network and cultural elements as part of the site planning for their homes, to honor their river and community connections to it and to provide health benefits by encouraging walking. The Puyallup Tribe returned to its cultural housing form, the longhouse, which was reinterpreted in a contemporary context and is helping rebuild a sense of community. A primary goal of the Teekalet Village Housing project was to protect the salmon hatchery near the project, which was accomplished by specifically designing watershed protection systems from the housing site downstream. Because the project team for Owe’neh Bupingeh worked closely with many different project stakeholders, more than half the homes in the sacred and cultural core of Ohkay Owingeh have been rehabilitated by tribal members using indigenous methods and materials. The project team for Devine Legacy, which is oriented toward urban Indians in Phoenix, needed a universal approach to incorporating cultural elements, because families of many traditions would live there. To meet these challenges, the project team based its design on the ancient Hohokam culture, one of the first settled people in this area. Many project teams, such as the Diné who worked with Indigenous Community Enterprises (ICE) to develop Elder Hooghan Homes, worked directly with the homeowners to ensure the project met their needs and incorporated traditional elements, such as east-facing entries.

31

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

Navajo Nation

NAVAJO | NHA PLANNING MANUAL

Need iden

JAN 2

Client:

Navajo Housing Authority (NHA)

Partners:

Enterprise Community Partners, Inc

Architect/Planners:

Swaback Partners, pllc

Sustainable Native Communities Collaborative (SNCC)

011

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Sustainable

tified

Construction in Indian Country Initiative (SCinIC)

SUS

SNC

JUL

The Navajo Housing Authority (NHA) undertook the ambitious task C gr

Y 2

TAINABLE PLANNING

of creating a sustainable planning framework for the Navajo Nation, een planning w

011

the largest tribal membership and land base in the United States, that includes 5 agencies, 24 regions, and 110 chapters. The goal was to lay out a framework for 34,000 housing units that will satisfy the need for sustainable and cultural housing on the Navajo Nation. This effort included site planning meetings with each agency, followed by planning ork

sessions with each region and its respective chapters.

shop

En

DE

Drawing by Swaback Partners, pllc

terpris

C 2

011

CORE PROJECT EMPHASES:

REGIONAL PLANNING

e Gr

PLANNING

RANGE OF DENSITIES

een C

SITE

TRIBAL CODES

ommunitie

Tribal

Engagement Partnerships

INNOVATION

Codes

LEARNING FROM ELDERS

CULTURE

LESSONS LEARNED

FUTURE GENERATIONS

s Charr

GREEN

• Understanding the importance of

34,000 UNITS

directly engaging the community at the

IMPACT

ett

grassroots level can help gain insight into a

e

community’s needs and culture.

HUD S

JAN 2

• Using “smart growth” planning strategies

CinIC t

012

must be modified for a rural context with

NUMBER UNITS PLANNED FOR:

limited infrastructure, remote sites, and a

34,000

echnic

traditional rural culture that values very low

densities.

* Dashed lines indicate

potential impact of all

categories as shown.

al as

BEST PRACTICES

sis

tanc

• Community-based planning methodologies

e begins

were developed to directly engage the

community through onsite workshops and

charrettes.

R

FEB 2

• Tribal professionals, housing authority

eque

staff, and students were all involved in the

s

engagement process.

012

t for pr

• Regional planning must achieve sustainable

opo

goals that are specific to culture and climate.

sal

Planning charr

JUL

Y 2

012

e

Density

ttes

C

FEB 2

omple

013

tion

Southwest

Drawing by Swaback Partners, pllc

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

32

NHA PLANNING MANUAL

C

Relative to the United States overall, housing on the Navajo Nation is generally are smaller and in very poor condition, with ONTEX

overcrowding and limited access to utilities. The Navajo Nation population is relatively young, poor, and underemployed. A number of factors affect housing needs on the Navajo Nation, including geographic dispersal across the reservation, affordability T

of housing, existing housing conditions, and inventory. The 2009 Navajo Housing Authority (NHA) Housing Needs Assessment estimates a total need for 34,000 new and replacement units of housing and a need to expand 8,500 existing homes to accommodate growing families. Some 60 percent of Navajo Nation housing structures are single-family homes, 17 percent are mobile homes, and 11 percent are traditional hooghan. The remaining 12 percent are made up of multifamily attached housing units and a variety of other unit types. It is estimated that 5 percent of all children on the reservation live in housing classified simply as

“available shelter,” which is defined as non-standard housing of the lowest quality. Because available shelter is comparable to tents or shacks and is not suitable shelter in extreme weather, this situation indicates a dire housing need.

Photo: Daniel Glenn

Photo: Daniel Glenn

Photo: Swaback Partners, pllc

Photo: Daniel Glenn

Photo: Swaback Partners, pllc

Photo: Daniel Glenn

Many community meetings were held during the planning process.

C

The Navajo Nation has the largest land area of any tribe in the United States: OMMUNITY

more than 24 million square miles in four states—Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico—and a population of approximately 300,000 tribal members. A major goal was to help the Navajo Housing Authority (NHA) identify appropriate land for new housing while offering sustainable planning approaches for housing patterns and designs that would align with Navajo culture, regional climate, and community needs. Each chapter is required to have Chapter Land Use Plans (CLUPs) identifying land for various uses. Through the planning process, the planning team determined that these CLUPs do not identify enough land to accommodate Symbol of Navajo Nation with 5 Agencies,

a projected need of 34,000 new housing units.

24 Regions, and 110 Chapters

33

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

NHA PLANNING MANUAL

C

In the Navajo (Diné) way of life, the concept of “hózhóogo naasháa doo,” “walking in beauty,” is an ancient term describing a UL

TURE

sustainable way of life, “steeped in the land, water, air, sun, and seasons.” As described in the NHA Planning Manual, “the Diné are meant to live off the land in beauty, harmony, happiness, and in the “hózhó” way of life, in balance with the natural environment.”

The planning effort sought to bring this way of thinking into dialogue with tribal members in the development of a sustainable framework for designing new communities on Navajo land. There was a challenge in this process, however, given the history of the Navajo as rural people living as sheepherders in small, remote, multigenerational family clusters. Although this rural lifestyle remains the preferred way of life for many Navajo, it can conflict with other sustainability goals, such as walkable, more compact communities, less reliance on automobiles, and mitigating costly infrastructure and services to remote communities. Many Navajo now live in highly urbanized contexts, either in communities on the Navajo Nation, or off reservation in urban areas. To reach this Diné diaspora, planners will have to address both the traditional and the urban Navajo.

Different Patterns of Rural Development

Drawings: Swaback Partners, pllc

Housing generously spaced and

Housing close together, with large,

Housing connected by pedestrian

oriented around native open space.

surrounding lots for farming and

networks to community amenities

animal pens.

beyond.

PROCE

The master planning effort began in January 2011 at a meeting of NHA leadership, led by Chief Executive Officer Aneva Yazzie and was further developed in a visioning workshop led by the Sustainable Native Communities Collaborative (SNCC) in the summer of 2011. In December 2011, SNCC led an Enterprise Green Communities Charrette with NHA leadership to begin work SS

on a sustainability standard for new housing developments. In 2012, with technical support from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Sustainable Construction in Indian Country (SCinIC) Initiative, a request for proposal was issued to develop a planning manual. Swaback Partners, pllc, was selected for the project, which was completed in the spring of 2013.

The planning process was organized in three phases.

Phase one: Site reconnaissance and evaluation.

Phase two: Programming confirmation and refinement.

Phase three: Prototypical plans and sustainable community master plans.

The planning team engaged the community representatives at each phase. Extensive planning workshops and site visits took place across the entire Navajo Nation, with daylong charrettes in each of the 24 regions. These planning meetings were instrumental in getting direct, hands-on input from tribal members. Following these planning meetings, NHA requested individual meetings with each of the 110 chapters to understand its individual community needs. The process was also an opportunity to gain a better understanding of specific regional needs across Navajo Nation and how new developments across the reservation could be better coordinated and better linked to serve the communities.

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

34

NHA PLANNING MANUAL

Drawing: Swaback Partners, pllc

Vision for the downtown core of Shiprock, New Mexico, can help set in motion a range of possibilities for future community needs.

NEX

Definition of Appropriate Housing Typologies:

The planning process identified five different types of housing: (1) single-family detached, (2) single-family attached, (3) T S

multigenerational homes, (4) apartments, and (5) senior living. Concepts for these building types will be developed as potential TEP

prototypes for development.

S

Design of Demonstration Projects:

The NHA is now planning to develop a series of demonstration projects on a larger scale to test the larger planning goals and sustainability strategies for implementation across the nation, in the build-out of a projected need for 34,000 homes.

HUD Sustainable Construction in Indian Country Initiative (SCinIC): The HUD SCinIC technical assistance team was part of the planning process, which led to new policy recommendations that the NHA will use to carry out the goals of the master plan as well as the larger goals of fostering more sustainable communities on the Navajo Nation. The following recommendations were approved by the NHA board and are being implemented as policy:

- Develop an interdisciplinary NHA design review committee to develop a Navajo sustainability standard and guide the design/planning process.

- Base the Navajo sustainability standard on the national Enterprise Green Communities Criteria and implement a modified version of this standard immediately on all planned projects.

- Revise the NHA request for proposal/request for qualifications selection process for design professionals to reflect sustainable/cultural goals.

- Adopt a community-based design/planning process for all new development and new housing types.

35

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

Guadalupe, AZ

PASCUA YAQUI | GUADALUPE HOUSE

C

NO

ommunit

Client:

Bejarano Family

Design/Build Team:

Hoopa Valley Tribal Community Conservation Corp,

V 2

Architect/Developer:

Arizona State University (ASU) Stardust Center

Valley of the Sun Habitat for Humanity, and

005

Design/Build Team:

Daniel Glenn, Design Director

Americorps

y de

Ernesto Fonseca, Construction/Energy Modeling, Partners:

Town of Guadalupe, Navajo FlexCrete

sign

DE

SER

The Guadalupe House is a low-cost home designed for the harsh desert climate of the Valley of the Sun, and reflects the unique cultures T DE

of the Latino and Yaqui communities of Guadalupe. It is a multigenerational house, designed to be expanded over time and accommo-SIGNED

date several generations living in one household. With a passive solar design, photovoltaic panels, water-cooled solar-powered air conditioning, and aerated concrete walls of Navajo FlexCrete, it requires minimal external energy to operate.

C

MA

ons

Y 2

truction de

Photo: Michael Pyatok

006

CORE PROJECT EMPHASES:

DESERT BASED

DESIGN

sign/

XERISCAPED

SITE

build

NAVAJO FLEXCRETE

Tribal

Density

Solar

Water

INNOVATION

Materials

Management

YAQUI/MEXICAN AMERICAN

CULTURE

LESSONS LEARNED

LEED

GREEN

• There is value in a community working

REGIONAL MODEL

together with universities in the

IMPACT

development of new designs and materials

for new housing.

S

OC

TOTAL PROJECT COST:

ub

$140,000

T 2

s

• Culturally relevant, sustainable housing can

tan

TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST:

006

be adopted on a larger scale for new housing

tial c

$140,000

developments.

COST PER SQ FOOT:

omple

$93

COST PER UNIT:

tion

BEST PRACTICES

$140,000

• Passive cooling ventilation, passive solar

TOTAL UNITS:

heating, and photovoltaic solar panels were

1

incorporated.

• Greywater reuse and rainwater harvesting,

together with a series of cisterns, are

featured.

C

DE

omple

C 2

• The house is designed to reflect and

celebrate traditional Mexican culture.

006

tion o

• The project makes use of Navajo FlexCrete,

f c

a lightweight highly insulated and tribally

ons

produced material.

truction

Single Family

Oc

JAN 2

cupied

00

7

Southwest

Photo: Michael Pyatok

Photo: Michael Pyatok

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

36

GUADALUPE HOUSE

C

Guadalupe is a predominantly Pascua Yaqui and Mexican-American community between Phoenix and Tempe. Its residents have UL

preserved a degree of cultural and geographic uniqueness while participating in the economic and political structures of Phoenix’s TURE

society. Many components of the home are designed to meet the standards for minimal energy usage. The outside courtyard is equipped with a shaded trellis and water fountain to keep it cool and comfortable. The courtyard additionally serves as a place for traditional large family gatherings. The carport serves as an outdoor ramada. Other cultural elements include a combined kitchen/

dining/living area, making the kitchen the heart of the home. As a multigenerational household, a separate casita serves as a room for a young adult or child. On the porch there is a specially designed niche for the Virgin of Guadalupe.

PROCE

Public meetings were held to develop the design of the home,

with the participation and support of the city council and

mayor. Meetings were held in the town hall, which included

SS

design workshops and presentations/discussions of the design

concepts. Educational presentations included information on

regional and Yaqui traditions, design techniques, and case

studies to respond to the desert climate.

DE

This home was designed as a prototype for the town of

SIGN

Guadalupe, its climate, and its culture. The design was

developed in a “kit-of-parts” workshop process with

community members and the homeowners, the Bejarano

family. Several key elements came out of this process,

including a courtyard-style design for cross ventilation; the

creation of a large shaded outdoor space for large family

Drawing by ASU Star Dust

gatherings; the separation of the master bedroom for the

elder homeowners from the bedrooms for their adult children;

the inclusion of a “casita,“ a small, separate guest room

for visiting family members or adult children; the capacity

This project is helping us build a

to expand the home upward, to add additional rooms or an

dream home, but in an affordable

apartment for the expanding family; the incorporation of a

way. We love the design of our new

carport, both for cars and as a outdoor “ramada,” a shade

home and look forward to living in

structure to use for large family gatherings; and the centrality of the kitchen opening directly to the living/dining areas.

it as a family. - Olivia Bejarano, homeowner

GREEN

This Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes Gold project focuses on utility reduction and low-maintenance core design principles, with a minimal cooling need and reducing heating.

Sunlight is largely used in place of artificial lighting, and proper shading and orientation protect the home during summer months. Thick walls made of Navajo FlexCrete provide an insulation that maintains a balanced temperature within the home year round, reducing heating and cooling requirements. Rooftop solar panels donated by ASU’s Photovoltaic Energy Lab are expected to provide 90 percent of the home’s electrical energy needs. Other green features include a tankless water heating system, ENERGY STAR windows, and highly insulated rooftop structural panels with a non-toxic coating that reflects solar heat. The roof is also a rainwater-harvesting system that collects water for future use, with a potential savings of 5,000 gallons per year. A greywater collection system was integrated into the design for the dual-flush toilets and irrigation of the courtyard.

Photo: Michael Pyatok

37

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

Crow Agency, MT

APSÁALOOKE (CROW) TRIBE | GOOD EARTH LODGES

S

2

t

009

ar

Client:

Apsáalooke Nation Housing Authority

Engineering:

University of Colorado Boulder

t o

Developer:

Good Earth Lodges

Engineering Research :

Mortenson Center in Engineering for Developing

f mat

Designers:

Tom Bowen, Matthew Jelacic, Rob Pyatt

Communities (MCEDC)

erials r

Design Team:

University of Colorado Boulder

EAR

es

The Apsáalooke Nation Housing Authority’s Good Earth Lodges project ear

is the culmination of a research and development project funded by ch

TH BL

the Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development. It has three objectives: to determine if the raw materials needed for compressed earth OCK HOME

blocks could be found on the Crow Indian Reservation, if the blocks could withstand Montana’s extreme climate, and if a tribal workforce could be C

2

onc

put in place to carry out the program. With technical assistance from 010

the University of Colorado Boulder’s Mortenson Cener in Engineering for ept and de

Developing Communities (MCEDC), the project is meeting these goals.

S

Seven homes have been completed and six more are nearing completion.

sign de

Photo: Richard Neill

CORE PROJECT EMPHASES:

v

PASSIVE SOLAR

elopmen

DESIGN

INFILL DEVELOPMENT

SITE

t

COMPRESSED EARTH BLOCK

Natural

Partnership

Passive

Engagement

INNOVATION

Building

Solar

LARGE GATHERING SPACE

CULTURE

LESSONS LEARNED

LOCAL MATERIALS

S

2

t

011

ar

• The material and human resources for developing

GREEN

t o

climate-appropriate new housing exist on the

LOCAL ECONOMY

f c

IMPACT

Crow Indian Reservation.

ons

truction

• In the future the community would prefer site

and unit planning based on Crow traditions, such

TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST:

as positioning buildings in a circle.

$1.38M

COST PER SQ FOOT:

• Critical partnerships can help to realize local

$157

capacity.

COST PER UNIT:

$197,000

BEST PRACTICES

TOTAL UNITS:

S

2

7

ub

012

• Affordable housing can both help to alleviate

st

homelessness and provide a pathway to skills

an

building and tribal employment.

tial c

• Passive solar orientation and design, combined

omple

with compressed earth block construction,

provides excellent passive heating during harsh

tion

Montana winters.

• Each home has space for large family gatherings.

Oc

2012

cupied

Pr

Pr

Single Family

oject ongoing

ese

nt

Northern Plains

Photo: Richard Neill

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

38

GOOD EARTH LODGES

C

The Apsáalooke Crow Tribe is located in south-central

C

On the Crow Indian Reservation, most of the existing houses

ONTEX

OMMUNITY

Montana and is the largest American Indian reservation in

are aged stick-frame and trailer homes. Approximately 8,000

the state. Like many American Indian tribes, the Crow are

tribal members live on the Crow Reservation. In 1997, the

T

a proud people with strong cultural traditions, but they

Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) identified a need for 1,040

are plagued with high unemployment, high poverty rates,

new housing units. This need has increased to approximately

and a shortage of adequate housing. Few opportunities

1,500 units. The BIA recorded that 370 (48 percent) of the

are available for private enterprise or jobs on the reser-

reservation’s 1,130 housing units are in substandard condition.

vation; this lack coincides with a lack of skilled workers.

Although a large population of homeless people live on the

Problems are exacerbated by the reservation’s extreme

reservation, they are mostly unseen because families take in

climate, with temperatures as low as -40°F in the winter

members, which leads to overcrowding.

and as high as 110°F in the summer. Many tribal mem-

bers live in houses that are poorly suited to the climate,

racking up extremely high utility bills, as much as $500

per month in the winter. (From Crow Tribe/Good Earth

Lodges by Tim Sullivan.)

Photo: Richard Neill

SITE

Seven completed homes are on scattered sites in two

We needed land for more housing,

communities, Crow Agency and Lodge Grass. Another six

and started to identify property

homes are under construction in a new subdivision locat-

throughout the reservation based

ed in Crow Agency, on the western side of the community

and on a high windswept plateau overlooking the Little

on factors like water, sewer, and

Bighorn Valley where most of the homes are located.

infrastructure. - Michael Stewart, ANHA

39

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

GOOD EARTH LODGES

DE

The single-family homes were designed with participation

GREEN

The houses feature a passive solar design, with south-facing

SIGN

from community members who wanted a large, shared

facades containing a trio of sliding glass doors and high win-

open space that combines kitchen, living, and dining into

dows. No windows are on the east side of the house to protect

a single space, and a vaulted ceiling that would open up to

from the summer’s harsh sun. The exterior shell is primarily

the south, allowing the warm winter sun in and blocking

compressed earth block construction made of locally sourced

the summer sun. This responds to the need for a large in-

materials and labor. Vaulted ceilings provide natural light and terior space for family gatherings and to the centrality of

improve ventilation through the structure. The first seven

food in the Crow culture. Bedrooms are relatively small to

homes have ground-source heat pumps. The current designs

maximize the large shared space and to provide space for

use standard heat pumps to reduce the cost and simplify

storage. The homes are built using a double-wythe earth

construction.

block construction technique. Each compressed earth

block weighs 28 pounds. The walls of the houses are built

with two rows of the 7-inch blocks, with the 4-inch space

in between filled with insulation, creating an 18-inch total

wall thickness. The roofs on the first seven homes were

We would rather utilize the heat

built using structural insulated panels. This technique

on the southern facing wall during

was modified to trusses and spray-on insulation in later

the winter and then block that sun

designs to reduce costs and simplify construction.

during the summer months.

- Larry Falls Down

Exterior porch encourages

outdoor activities during warmer

months.

Small northern windows minimize

heat loss in winter.

The super-insulated wall is

constructed of two rows of earth

block with a 4-inch insulation

between the block.

Large family gathering spaces

reflect a cultural planning tradition.

Large south-facing windows allow

passive solar heating in winter.

Eastern entry and

vestibules provide

Wooden deck encourages outdoor

airlock to reduce air

activity during warmer months.

infiltration to the

home.

Ample storage

2 Bedrooms | 1 Story | Floor Plan

Drawing by Good Earth Lodges

C

The design of the Crow Good Earth Lodges is in response to the needs of the larger, multigenerational families typical of the Crow UL

TURE

community. The intent, however, is to build more houses to lessen the demand for housing, so that the need for more than one generation to share a single house is reduced. Multigenerational families living under one roof is not a cultural preference but a forced condition based on limited availability of housing. The large gathering space is important for large family gatherings and a relatively communal lifestyle.

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

40

GOOD EARTH LODGES

INNO

Creating a new material and a new production process

VISION

The long-term vision in collaboration with the Division of En-

while training workers in both the production of the mate-

ergy and Mineral Development is to continue to develop and

VA

rial and its use in construction was challenging, but there

enhance the tribe’s ability to identify resources that enhance TION

is great pride in the project and the way in which Crow re-

its economic stability. The Good Earth Lodges project starts

sources and Crow tribal members were used to construct

to achieve that vision. Historically, the focus was to extract these homes. The external collaboration between the Uni-resources on tribal lands. This project, although challenging, versity of Colorado Boulder and the Apsáalooke Nation

identifies a series of solutions for issues on the Crow Reserva-Housing Authority has been embraced by all who have

tion, such as addressing unemployment and the need for job

participated in the projects. Involvement of the university

training, addressing the critical need for housing, and identifyin the project has been instrumental both in providing

ing resources on tribal lands that can be used in construction technical and management support and also in providing

and tribal enterprise.

continuity, as the staffing within the housing authority

has continued to change due to internal challenges and

changes in government during the life of the project.

The Crow people believe that they have

three mothers. The first is the woman

who gives birth to the child. The last is

Mother Earth, who the people go back to

when they die. And then the home, the

lodge is our mother, it protects us as we

are being raised, coming up in this world.

- Cedric Black Eagle

Photo: Apsáalooke Nation Housing Authority

Photo: Apsáalooke Nation Housing Authority

LE

SS

The Good Earth Lodges project explores the potential for sovereign nations to produce ONS LEARNED

their own building materials and use their own labor to create more sustainable, locally based economies. It is an excellent example of how universities can collaborate with tribal communities to develop projects that fit the needs and achieve the vision of the community.

The project also provides lessons about the challenges of achieving locally produced, locally sourced, and locally built houses. Moving outside of conventional construction practices and

/CONCL

materials presents significant challenges, but it also allows for creative solutions. It allows tribes to work outside the conventional marketplace to provide innovative products and USION

approaches to achieve many additional benefits beyond the provision of housing.

Photo: Richard Neill

41

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

Tacoma, WA

PUYALLUP TRIBE OF INDIANS | PLACE OF HIDDEN WATERS

C

MA

ommunit

Client/Developer:

Puyallup Nation Housing Authority

Civil Engineer:

Haozous Engineering

Y 2

Design Architect:

Daniel Glenn, AIA, NCARB

Structural Engineer

Malsam Tsang Engineering Corporation

009

Architecture Firm

Environmental Works

Landscape Architect:

Thomas Rengstorf and Associates

y de

Contractor:

Puyallup Nation Housing Authority and Marpac

Partner:

Ecotope

sign

CUL

F

JUL

unding applic

TUR

Place of Hidden Waters represents culturally and environmentally re-Y 2

sponsive new housing for the Puyallup Tribe in the Pacific Northwest, one that achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design 009

AL F

(LEED) for Homes Platinum certification. The project is located on ORM

traditional Puyallup tribal lands on a hill overlooking the Puget Sound ation

tidal flats. The design emulates the rectangular, shed-roofed form of a traditional Coast Salish longhouse, using a variation of the modern C

MAR 2

townhouse courtyard.

omple

tion o

010

Photo: Tucker English

f s

CORE PROJECT EMPHASES:

chematic de

COMMUNITY INTEGRATED DESIGN

DESIGN

HABITAT PRESERVATION

SITE

XERISCAPE + RAIN GARDENS

sign

Cultural

Water

Renewable Engagement

INNOVATION

Form

Management

Energy

LONGHOUSE FORM

CULTURE

C

MA

ons

LESSONS LEARNED

LEED PLATINUM

Y 2

truction s

• Affordable tribal housing can achieve LEED

GREEN

010

NATIONAL MODEL

Platinum certification and be a national

IMPACT

housing model.

t

TOTAL PROJECT COST:

ar

• Resident and staff participation in the design

t

$6.6M

s on housing

process was a critical ingredient to the

TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST:

project’s success.

Phase I: $2.6M Phase II: $2.1M*

COST PER SQ FOOT:

• Careful study of historic precedents can

Phase I: $166 Phase II: $135*

provide inspiration for modern living.

COST PER UNIT:

C

NO

Phase I: $260,000

ons

BEST PRACTICES

V 2

Phase II: $210,000*

truction s

• An integrative process was key to the

010

TOTAL UNITS:

design from the beginning, following the

20

requirements for LEED for Homes.

tart

• The vision for the project came from

s on r

engagement among the housing authority,

ec c

community, and architect. The project was

developed through careful site evaluation,

en

historic precedents, and green building

ter

goals.

C

A

omple

• Consistent project leadership by housing

UG 2

staff allowed for continuity.

* Estimated costs

tion o

011

f rec c

enter

Multifamily

Housing oc

MAR 2

012

cupied

Northwest

Photo: Tucker English

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

42

PLACE OF HIDDEN WATERS

C

Located near the city of Tacoma, the project lies between

DE

Of the three buildings in the newly developed area, two are

ONTEX

a midcentury, single-family development and a forested

SIGN

10-unit townhouse clusters designed to emulate the tradi-

habitat corridor. The site is 75 percent flat, giving way to a tional Coastal Salish “longhouse” in which multiple families

T

gently sloping, big leaf maple forest and dropping steeply

shared a single long building and a shared linear gathering

toward the west into a seasonal creek called Julia’s Gulch.

space. The one- and two-story townhomes face a central,

The gulch feeds into Commencement Bay via the Hylebos

partially covered courtyard, with an orientation that maxi-

Waterway, which historically is one of the most productive

mizes natural light, views, and cross ventilation in every room.

salmon runs in the state of Washington. It was critical that

On the south side are five one-story, one-bedroom homes,

the project have no negative impact on this important

designed for seniors or disabled residents as fully accessible habitat.

units. On the north side are two-story, two-bedroom homes

for small families. The shed roof is partially open to the

spaces below, adding height and daylight to the homes. The

newly renovated and expanded gymnasium building is located

INNO

The residential buildings are sited along an east-west axis

between the two developments, with new community rooms,

to allow for prevailing summer breezes and for passive so-

V

a kitchen, and office space. A “community living room” with a

A

lar heating/cooling. It was initially designed with a “solar-

TION

gas fireplace serves as an informal meeting space for story-

ready” roof design for future installment of a photovoltaic

telling and conversation.

array (to be installed in phase two). This design, combined

with the installation of ground-source heat pumps, is tar-

geted to yield a zero-energy building. (Phase II does not

use ground-source heat pumps.)

Gymnasium

Dance circle

and arbor

Typical two bedroom unit

Typical one bedroom unit

Community

living room

Site plan: Phase I

Drawing: Environmental Works

SITE

The project site is located in a wooded, suburban area adjacent to 27 units of Puyallup Nation Housing Authority (PNHA) rental townhouses built in the 1980s. The site originally included an abandoned youth home and a deteriorated gymnasium. The wooded area is sloped, overlooking the Puget Sound tidal flats, with a wildlife corridor on the lower slope, which has been redeveloped with a nature trail leading to a sweat lodge area. Rain gardens and native plants help to provide a natural setting, minimize irrigation, and protect the Puget Sound from runoff. The site amenities include a dance arbor, playground, salmon-bake pit, sweat lodge area, and walking trail.

Photo: Tucker English

Salmon-bake pit

43

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

PLACE OF HIDDEN WATERS

C

Resident and staff participation in the design process

LEED

An integrative design process was key to the design from the

OMMUNITY PROCE

was a critical ingredient in the project’s success. Design

beginning and also met the LEED for Homes requirements. An

workshops were held in the old gymnasium, and residents

interdisciplinary green charrette was held at the outset, which were invited to give input. Additional design meetings

included the full design team and PNHA staff. Agreement was

with maintenance and operations staff were held at the

made to pursue a LEED for Homes Platinum certification, if

Puyallup Nation Housing Authority (PNHA) offices. Resi-

it could be achieved within the budget. This early decision

dents and staff also helped to deconstruct the abandoned

helped to guide the process from the beginning and brought

S

youth home and clean the wooded site.

the design team, contractors, construction manager, and staff

S

together to achieve this goal.

Shed style frame, Lummi, Washington

Photo: Tucker English

Daylight from above, Chinook

Shed-style longhouse interior, Klallam Salish

Photo: Tucker English

C

The housing and the community center designs emulate the traditional multifamily cedar plank longhouses of the Puyallup Tribe, UL

TURE

a housing type common throughout Pacific Northwest Salish tribes. Multiple families were housed in linear shed- or gable-roofed structures sharing a long, central, linear gathering space with sleeping spaces on either side. This design was redefined in this project in contemporary terms as a linear courtyard, partially covered, with townhomes lining either side. The courtyard, like the longhouse, creates a shared common area and protected entry area, which is intended to encourage community interaction, provides safe play space for children, and ensures greater security for each family. Like the longhouse, Place of Hidden Waters is designed as a single, repeatable modular structure. The existing gable-roofed, cinder-block gymnasium was renovated and extended to the south, emulating the way longhouse structures were added onto for additional families. A community living room with its own fireplace, offices, kitchen, and activity rooms is housed in this two-story addition to the gym. A salmon-bake fire pit on the south-facing community front porch is used for traditional salmon bakes. A nature trail leads to a site for a sweat structure in a wooded park to the west.

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

44

PLACE OF HIDDEN WATERS

INNO

The project was managed and built by tribal members—

VISION

The design evolved from concept through construction,

force-account labor crews from the Puyallup Nation

integrating a community process in which the vision for the

VA

Housing Authority (PNHA) combined with an experienced

project came from engagement with the client and the com-

TION

construction manager who developed training apprentice-

munity, with careful study of historic precedents and culture

ships. The contract documents were divided into two sep-

and with analysis of the site and its challenging opportunities.

arate bid packages to facilitate this training component,

with the community center, gymnasium, site redevelop-

ment, and infrastructure under one contract, and the ver-

tical construction of the housing, built by the PTHA crews,

under another contract. The housing features structural

insulated panel (SIP) construction, which facilitated rapid

construction and assured a very tight building envelope.

Tribal workers were trained in SIP/ technology and instal-

lation. The modular design allowed for the crews to learn

on the first units and speed up production on the rest of

the development.

Photo: Tucker English

This project is not only protecting

Mother Earth, it is transforming

lives. The design encourages

community interaction. Our tenants

are gardening, cooking, learning,

praying, and living in concert

together, like we have done for

generations. - Annette Bryan, PNHA

Photo: Tucker English

LESSONS LEARNED/

This project provides a strong example of sustainable and culturally responsive housing. For centuries, the Coastal Salish people lived in cedar plank longhouses in the Pacific Northwest.

Ideal for a rainy climate, this compact, multifamily dwelling type also reduces environmental impact. The project type also provides a highly communal environment, although there was concern that perhaps it was “too” communal for today’s tribal people, who are accustomed to a more individualized contemporary lifestyle. However, interviews with current residents CONCLUSION

demonstrated that the design has been well received by the residents. Place of Hidden Waters also proves that a tribal project can be a model for green housing nationwide, even beyond tribal housing. The project received the Project of the Year Award by LEED for Homes as well as recognition through the 2013 Social Economic Environmental Design (SEED) Awards, the 2011

Excellence in Affordable Housing Award, and locally through a Tacoma Pierce County Housing Consortium for Sustainability award.

Photo: Tucker English

45

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

El Paso, TX

YSLETA DEL SUR | LIHTC PUEBLO HOMES

T

2

ax cr

006

Client:

Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Housing Department

Syndicator:

Raymond James Financial, Inc

edit applic

Developer:

Ysleta del Sur Pueblo

Development Consultants:

Travois, LIHTC consultant

Architect :

CEA Group

ation

ACCE

Ysleta del Sur Pueblo is located within the cities of El Paso

S

and Socorro, Texas. This Low-Income Housing Tax Credit

S T

(LIHTC) Pueblo Homes project is situated in a 66-acre master

O RE

planned community called District II in Socorro. As a clustered multiuse project, this mix of single-family and multifamily

S

homes is in a 60-unit development, with 30 duplexes and

OURCE

30 single-family homes. Additional site elements include

a playground/picnic area and community center/police

substation. The project is the first Native American LIHTC

S

project in Texas.

T

July 2

Photo: SNCC

ax cr

CORE PROJECT EMPHASES:

edit a

PUEBLO

008

DESIGN

CLUSTERED

war

SITE

ded

CREATIVE FINANCING

Envelope

Weaving

Modular

Water

INNOVATION

Management

BUILDING COMMUNITY

CULTURE

LESSONS LEARNED

ENERGY STAR

• When tackling a complex tax credit project there

GREEN

are multiple obstacles to surmount, including

FIRST TRIBAL LIHTC IN TX

understanding the application process, and

IMPACT

structuring the project within the required

TOTAL PROJECT COST:

scoring criteria and thresholds.

$7.59M

• Partnerships are critical to successful, first-time

TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST:

projects between a tribe and state.

$6.58M

COSTS PER SQ FOOT:

$102*

C

2

ons

009

COST PER UNIT:

truction s

$109,000

BEST PRACTICES

TOTAL UNITS:

• Consultants were brought on early to design a

60

t

master plan and to understand the market and

arts

the environmental impact.

• Though it took time, every available source of

funding was used to raise the needed dollars,

including leveraging loans and grants through

regional, county, and state organizations.

C

FEB 2

• 100 percent of stormwater was retained on the

ons

site.

truction c

011

*Estimated costs

omple

te and pr

Single Family,

oject fully r

Attached + Detached

ented

Southern Plains

Drawing by CEA Group

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

46

LIHTC PUEBLO HOMES

GREEN

In addition to full stormwater runoff retention,

CONTEX

The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo is situated just north of

structural insulated panels (SIPs) provide a

Mexico along the Rio Grande. The primary reservation

continuous R-23 value for thermal resistance.

community is one mile northeast of the Zaragoza

Openings on the western facades are kept to a

T

International border between the United States

minimum to control heat gain, and all windows

and Mexico. The land configuration is referred to as

are equipped with double-pane low-emissivity

“checkerboard,” with tribal trust land and non-tribal

glazing, with internal blinds for reduced thermal

land pieced together with non-contiguous boundaries.

conductivity. Plumbing fixtures are low flow, and

furnaces are ENERGY STAR rated. Native and

4% Land improvements

drought-tolerant landscaping was planted, using

2% Architecture and

xeriscape methods to minimize irrigation.

engineering fees

9% Misc. soft

cost

44%

Building

Construction

38%

Infrastructure

Photo: Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Housing Department

Bedrooms

Project cost breakdown

3% Native

Kitchen + dining

6% Ysleta loan to project

American Housing

Assistance and Self

Living

Determination Act

14%

Covered entry

Misc.

4% Home

Loan Bank

Funding

38%

Garage

Gar

35%

Infrastructure

LIHTC

funded by

LVWD

TXDOT

FHA

Typical Floor Plan

Drawing: Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Housing Department

Project funding sources

INNO

The tribe partnered with local, state, and federal

INNO

The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Housing Department

agencies to help fund $6 million in infrastructure

completed the first Native American Low-Income

V

V

A

costs, such as a lift station that was partly funded

A

Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) project in Texas, utilizing

TION-FINANCING

TION-P

by the Lower Valley Water District (LVWD), traffic

multiple sources of funding. This was accomplished by

lights that were funded by the Texas Department

developing partnerships with tax credit consultants

of Transportation (TXDOT), and roads that

AR

and investors who understood the project’s scope and

were partially funded by the Federal Highway

TNERS

intent and who helped negotiate the multiple levels of

Administration (FHA).

compliance required by state funding agencies.

47

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

Ohkay Owingeh, NM

OHKAY OWINGEH | OWE’NEH BUPINGEH

Pr

2006

e

Client:

Ohkay Owingeh

Development Consultant:

Concept Consulting Group

serv

Developer:

Ohkay Owingeh Housing Authority

Partners:

HUD Office of Native American Program, Chamiza Foundation,

ation educ

Architect:

Atkin Olshin Scade Architects

National Park Service, NM Mortgage Finance Authority, NM

Contractor:

Avanyu General Contracting, Inc.

Historic Preservation Division, McCune Charitable Foundation,

National Trust for Historic Preservation

ation pr

TRIB

Owe’neh Bupingeh, the traditional name for the Ohkay Owingeh

ogr

AL PRE

village center, is believed to have been occupied for at least 700 years.

Owe’neh Bupingeh is composed of four plazas, surrounded in the past am

by several hundred homes. Sixty of the homes remain, most of which had been abandoned by 2005 due to deterioration. This multiphased Or

20

SER

al his

project balances rehabilitation with functional renovations of the homes, 07

V

permitting contemporary life and cultural traditions to comfortably torie

ATION

coexist and allowing families to return to the sacred core of the Pueblo.

Approximately half of the construction crew were tribal members.

s + mapping

Photo: Kate Russell

CORE PROJECT EMPHASES:

COMMUNITY-BASED

DESIGN

TRADITIONAL SETTLEMENT

SITE

Pr

2

PRESERVATION TECHNOLOGY + TRAINING

008

e

Heritage

Natural

Training

Engagement

s

INNOVATION

erv

Materials

YOUTH + ELDERS

ation plan + MOU

CULTURE

LESSONS LEARNED

NATURAL MATERIAL

GREEN

• Involving many different community groups,

REGIONAL MODEL

including elders and youth, can provide a

IMPACT

strong first step to define the vision and gain

support.

TOTAL PROJECT COSTS:

$7.1M

• Developing partnerships with state and

TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST:

federal agencies can help define new

$5.1M

pathways toward compliance and build

COST PER SQ FOOT:

enthusiasm.

Phases I-II: $115 | Phase III: $133

BEST PRACTICES

COST PER UNIT:

$175,000

• A strong preservation technology component

TOTAL UNITS:

2

Phas

2

combined with training and employment led

29

0 home

010

to almost 50 percent employment by tribal

e I begins c

members.

s Phas

• Understanding the cultural resources

philosophy of tribal leaders helped identify an

e I and Phas

ons

alternative pathway to Section 106 (Historic

truction

Preservation) compliance.

• Being prepared through long-term planning

e II

can lead to “shovel-ready” funding to kick-

start a project.

2

Phas

JUL

9 home

Multifamily

Y 2

e I–III c

013

s

omple

te

South West

Drawing: Atkin Olshin Shade Architects

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

48

OWE’NEH BUPINGEH

C

In the past, the connected house blocks of this traditional

SITE

Owe’neh Bupingeh is the historic center of Ohkay Owingeh.

ONTEX

village supported a social structure that knitted the

Four traditional plazas are surrounded by 60 extant homes

families and clans together. Although U.S. Department of

and at least 20 lots on which homes previously stood. Com-

T

Housing and Urban Development (HUD) developments of

pared with the later Spanish plazas and American squares,

the 1970s consist of suburban, single-family homes built

which are landscaped, furnished, and ornamented, the tra-

at the outskirts of the pueblo and served a need for new

ditional earthen pueblo plazas are very sparse. Yet Owe’neh

housing at the time, they also contributed, with other

Bupingeh is the setting for ritual observances and is the

societal changes, to a devastating decline in the language

tribe’s spiritual center. Several times a year, the plazas are and lifeways of the people. The rehabilitation of Owe’neh

filled with people. This project marks the start of a long pro-Bupingeh is one strand of a broad tribal effort to rebuild

cess by which the traditional use and character of the historic the cultural traditions of the tribe by bringing families

Pueblo core will be restored through the form and appearance

back to the historic and cultural core of the Pueblo.

of the dwellings.

St Hwy 74

107

001

001

105

109

102

104

109

106

106

107

103

101

#

102

103

P

110

1

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601a

101

104

111

901

202a

201

126

P

601b

124 128

127

123

131

125

130

{ }

120

202c

#

204

122

132

121

#

119

P

118

116

301

135

117

134

203

601c

115

113

P

P

902

P

136

P

200

604

114

133

137

609

302

303d

306

602

610

138

P

305a

603

143

904

903

P

139

144

304

157

Tsay

303a

611

156

{ }

145

P

140

146

303b

801

158

605

182

150 151

P’o Pay A

153

141

154

155

305c 159

152

802

147

148 149

P

160

P

venue

606

608

403c P

162

401

{ }

161?

163

164

607

402

403a

P

166

{ }

177

169

168

174

165

170

176

Current pr oject boundary

803

172

167

173

171

175

501

504

503

701

180

181

178

179

Private - Inhabited Daily

502

702

703

Private - Feast Days only

National Register historic district boundary

P

704

Private - Uninhabited

Communal - Regular Use

N

Communal - Unused

010 30 50 75 100

150 ft

Frequency of use: 2006

Drawing: Atkin Olshin Shade Architects

C

The project began with tribal youth who were taught to document and research the UL

TURE

existing buildings and perform research. Elders contributed recollections of buildings no longer present and stories of their lives on the plazas. Dozens of community meetings were held to gain feedback, and the preservation plan was developed through extensive discussions with the Tribal Council and a newly formed Cultural Advisory Team. The rehabilitation principles that evolved are sometimes in conflict with federal preservation standards. However, these principles are based on Ohkay Owingeh community and cultural values, and are being implemented by construction crew members and homeowners from the tribe who, through learning traditional methods of construction, ensure that the project is culturally appropriate.

Photo: Atkin Olshin Shade Architects

GREEN

As a preservation project, Owe’neh Bupingeh is inherently sustainable. The entire project team (tribe, architect, and contractor) was committed to retaining as much of each existing building as possible. Constructed by their ancestors, the earthen walls contain the breath and sweat of the Ohkay Owingeh people. Where adobe walls were no longer structurally sound, they were taken down and ground up as the main ingredient of the new earthen plaster. In the initial phases, green design features include highly insulated roofs, insulated windows, and ENERGY STAR appliances. Phase III meets Enterprise Green Communities standards; however, it was determined that getting a HERS rating separately for each individual home would be cost prohibitive.

49

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

OWE’NEH BUPINGEH

DE

The design of the project is rooted in, but not restrained by, the past. The existing SIGN

condition of the homes in 2005 was disappointing to tribal members. Owe’neh Bupingeh still functioned as the traditional center of the tribe, but appearances were marred by extensive deterioration and by the introduction of inappropriate modern details (doors, windows, gutters, cement plaster, etc.). An analysis of more than 400 historic photos was completed, with a clear understanding that only the last 140 years of this 700-year-old place had been documented. Great changes were observed in the photos found, and while it was necessary to understand the changes during the last 150 years, a strict restoration was neither possible nor desirable. The earliest images show the pueblo at its greatest density, with the dwellings, before doors were installed, still accessed via roof hatches. These historic photos provided the tribe with the ability to determine an authentic vocabulary, distinct from other pueblos and the pueblo revival style.

Photo: John Gaw Meen Collection

C

Federal funding required meeting the Secretary of

UL

TURE

the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic

Places (Section 106). These standards are based on

the notion that historic places have a “period of sig-

nificance” that should guide preservation treatment.

However, to Ohkay Owingeh, the present and the future

are just as significant as the past, and “preservation”

means sustaining an entire way of being, not just build-

ings. The federal standard needed to be reinterpreted

in ways that afforded a meaningful discussion and

prioritized local needs. Although the preservation phi-

losophy developed by the tribe sometimes challenges

federal preservation standards, these self-determined

principles are culturally sustainable. Rather than return

to a specific appearance from the past, the tribe has

developed a process for balancing traditional building

elements with contemporary amenities.

PROCE

Community participation is the foundation of the

project. Throughout the process, the project team

worked with elders, cultural leaders, residents, and

SS

youth in defining their goals and vision. Construction

and homeowner training was a high priority, resulting in

43 percent of the construction crew being from Ohkay

Owingeh.

Photo: Atkin Olshin Shade Architects

INNO

Ohkay Owingeh developed a comprehensive preservation plan to guide practical housing improvements according to cultural values. Planning costs were funded VA

through traditional preservation sources, with construction funded primar-TION

ily through various HUD programs, requiring a fine balance between regulatory standards in addition to the tribe’s own perspectives. The project is rooted in the preservation philosophy of Ohkay Owingeh tribal leaders, which values the life of the Pueblo and inhabitation over material conservation. The preservation technology is highly innovative, utilizing many years of material sciences field research by specialists in adobe construction. For example, the repair and reconstruction of damaged vigas (round timber beams) included boring dowels into the viga and splicing on new extensions, in order to save as much of the existing material as possible. This was an important cultural factor, as many of the vigas were “gifted” from one family to another, with initials still visible.

Photo: Avanyu, LLC

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

50

OWE’NEH BUPINGEH

2.5%

1.25%

Tribe

VISION

This project has its roots in two previous projects at

Nonprofit

Ohkay Owingeh. Tsigo Bugeh Village is a 40-unit rental

.25%

development completed in 2003 and financed with low-in-

NM STATE

come housing tax credits (LIHTCs). It was the first modern

project at the pueblo to incorporate substantial commu-

nity participation, including storytelling about life in the

25.25%

plaza area. Immediately following was a comprehensive

American Recovery

master plan in 2004, which won a Smart Growth Award

57.75%

for Small Communities and was also developed with

and Reinvestment

U.S. Department of

community input. The success of these projects helped to

Act

Housing and Urban

develop capacity to rehabilitate the historic core. It also

4.5%

I.H.S.

Development

brought the community and cultural leaders to the table

with the Ohkay Owingeh Housing Authority (OOHA) to

.5%

realize their collective vision to bring elders and families

National Park

back to live in the historic core.

Service

8%

HOME Investment

Partnership program

Project funding sources

Where does the vision

actually come from for

the community? It should

come from the members

from that community,

where members always

have input. - Joe Garcia

Photo: Kate Russell

LE

A significant portion of the funding for the next phase of rehabilitation has been secured SSONS LEARNED

and the qualification process has begun. Funding thus far has been limited to low-income families, leaving many families just above low-income thresholds out of the project. OOHA established Cha Piyeh, Inc., a community development finance institution (CDFI), to provide low-interest loans to families who do not income-qualify and have no other means of participating in the project. Parcels of land on the plazas that have long been vacant have

/C

had ownership confirmed, and future phases of the project will include new construction on ONCL

these sites to fill in the gaps between house blocks. Many of the other Pueblo tribes have come to visit Owe’neh Bupingeh and meet with the project team. Other groups, including the USION

World Monuments Fund, the Getty Conservation Institute, and a delegation from Morocco, have visited to learn how culturally appropriate housing can help rebuild the strength of a community.

Dancers, photo: Guy Ambrosino

51

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

Navajo Nation, AZ and NM

NAVAJO NATION | ELDER HOOGHAN HOMES

C

2

ommunit

006

Client:

Navajo elders and tribal members

Project Engineers:

Bill Druc, P.E.; Art Fust, P.E.

Developer/Builder:

Indigenous Community Enterprises

Project Partners:

Navajo Housing Authority, Navajo Tribal Utility

Architect:

Nathaniel Corum

Authority, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural

y de

Builders:

Western Strawbale Builders, Matt Robinson,

Development, Arizona Department of Commerce,

sign

Jaime Ballesteros

Architecture for Humanity

OFF

Indigenous Community Enterprises (ICE), one of the first green builders for

-GRID TR

the Navajo Housing Authority, providing culturally appropriate housing for low-income Navajo tribal members. The Elder Hooghan Homes initiative worked directly with Navajo elders who helped design floor plans that would support traditional lifeways while being efficient and low-impact. On ADITION

off-grid sites, the homes often make use of traditional design knowledge, local skills, and materials from the Navajo Nation, including straw bales from Navajo Agricultural Products Industries (NAPI) and timber from tribal forests.

Photo: Harry Connoly

CORE PROJECT EMPHASES:

ELDER INPUT

DESIGN

C

2

ons

0

OFF-GRID

07

SITE

truction s

SKILLS TRAINING

Tribal

Cultural

Engagement Off-Grid

INNOVATION

Materials

Form

TRADITIONAL HOOGHAN FEATURES

t

CULTURE

ar

LESSONS LEARNED

t

SOLAR STRAW BALE

s

• Good building envelopes reduce heating

GREEN

costs, which is extremely important in rural,

HOME PROTOTYPES

off-grid homes.

IMPACT

• Low-tech alternative building materials can

TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST:

provide needed job skills to a community.

$2.4M

• New materials can be used to construct

PER SQ FOOT:

$105

traditional housing types.

COST PER UNIT:

$150,000

TOTAL UNITS:

BEST PRACTICES

16

• The project benefited many communities by

introducing Navajo workers to green building

S

2

ub

010

skills.

stan

• Unique elder-approved designs included

tial c

traditional hooghan designs built with new

materials.

omple

• Off-grid systems enable elders to live in their

tion

traditional lands, often far from paved roads

and power lines.

Single Family

Oc

2011

cupied

Southwest

Photo: Harry Connoly

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

52

ELDER HOOGHAN HOMES

DE

Indigenous Community Enterprises (ICE) expressed an

C

The designs and materials support traditional life in several

UL

SIGN

interest in designing a straw bale home with a culturally

TURE

ways. It was clear that an east entry and approach to the

relevant design. To this end and with technical assistance

hooghan was important for cultural reasons. Additionally, the

from the Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellowship to

octagonal primary space on the interior supports ceremonial

explore the possibilities of traditional forms built of Flex-

use while providing a traditional space for gatherings and cer-Crete (a Navajo-owned, lightweight, energy-efficient tribal

emonies that reference the four directions. A wood burning

building material) and with straw bales sourced from

stove has traditional as well as practical uses.

NAPI and SIPs systems. Several rounds of workshops with

future homeowners and elders were held to determine

floor plan variations and how to integrate hooghan forms

INNO

This initiative represents a prime example of tribally staffed with other rooms and features. Three dimensional models

nonprofits producing culturally appropriate green home

V

were used so that elders could move walls and comment

A

ownership opportunities. The Navajo hooghan, a traditional

TION

on their likes/dislikes among design options.

place-form, was designed and built with elder input and tribal workforce, with local and natural materials for the benefit of tribal families who wished to live in a more traditional manner.

These traditional Diné hooghan plans utilized the off-grid

systems, enabling elders to live in their traditional lands, even Passive solar design | 1 bedroom | 1 story

far from paved roads and power lines.

Drawing: Nathaniel Corum

Wood stove for off-grid

and traditional uses.

Navajo materials: straw

bale, timber products

and, FlexCrete.

Dense utility core

Wood stove for off-grid

and traditional uses.

East-facing entrance

Octagonal hooghan is the primary

faces sunrise

space to accommodate ceremony and

traditional lifeways.

Photo: Harry Connolly

GREEN

This Elder Hooghan Homes initiative features passive solar design, natural materials, day-lighting and efficient systems. In addition to solar-generated electricity, these off-grid homes use a cistern water system designed for native houses that are too remote to hook up to a community water system. Homes feature green and culturally appropriate features while focusing on efficiency, cost-effectiveness and ease of construction and maintenance. Tribal-member crews were trained in the “tilt-wall” erection process. Straw bale is a local, renewable, non-toxic and carbon-sequestering material. Stained concrete floors avoid many interior pollution issues. Other green features include: solar PV and/

or hot water, post-consumer attic insulation (newspaper), rainwater harvesting, efficient fixtures and appliances, local wood and low/no VOC paints and stains, and structural insulated panel (SIP) systems.

Photo: Nathaniel Corum

53

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

GREEN  |  BEST PRACTICES

How does green building help achieve

affordable, healthy housing?

Ventilation

Renewable

Salvage

Water

GREEN

The case studies profiled here are composed of many shades of green. Some, such as Puyallup Place of Hidden Waters, Devine Legacy, Kumuhau Subdivision, and Penobscot LEED Homes, sought Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification to verify the green performance of their buildings. Others used the Enterprise Green Communities Criteria, developed specifically for affordable housing. All the projects exhibit comprehensive approaches to green building—looking at project location, site design, water conservation, energy efficiency, appropriate materials, healthy indoor air quality, and long-term operations and maintenance. In most cases, cultural and economic sustainability was as high a priority as environmental sustainability. Tribal enterprise and employment are crucial to economic sustainability, and many projects incorporated new materials such as Navajo FlexCrete, earth, straw, and structural insulated panels (SIPs). Coeur d’Alene and Northern Cheyenne feature super-insulated straw bale wall systems. Passive solar design strategies are found to be cost effective. The Mescalero Apache and the Apsáalooke (Crow) Tribe projects both optimize site orientation and design to allow for passive solar and ventilation to reduce heat load in the winter months and provide protection and airflow during hot summer months. Indoor air quality is critical to protect residents’ health and can be incorporated with little additional cost. The project team for Kumuhau Subdivision worked to modify the Airscape whole house fan specifically for its project, to produce a quieter ventilation system called the Kohila fan. Many homes were built to be ready for renewable energy connections in the future. Penobscot, Kumuhau, Passamaquoddy, and Pinoleville Pomo all installed photovoltaic panels, and Puyallup installed ground source heat recovery. The Pinoleville Pomo Nation developed a tribal green building code as part of its two prototype homes project, which will positively affect future development.

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

54

BEST PRACTICES |  IMPACT

How do our actions impact future

generations?

Future

Generations

Replicable

Health

Tribal

Codes

IMP

These exemplary projects serve to inspire and educate others even outside of the tribal housing sphere. Several, such as the Place A

of Hidden Waters, Devine Legacy, and Owe'neh Bupingeh have acted as catalysts for community revitalization projects. Many are CT

considered national and regional models. For instance, both Place of Hidden Waters and Ohkay Owingeh received the international SEED award, and have received national awards for exemplary green design and planning. The Navajo Housing Authority Sustainable Master Planning Manual may have the most potential for influencing change, with a goal to lay out a framework for sustainable planning and development for 34,000 housing units. Each project involved many partnerships, and many projects are increasing their impact by connecting housing to long-term planning and other tribal initiatives. For instance, many have incorporated training and tribal employment, which not only helps address the challenge of economic development but also acts to maximize the investment by keeping dollars local. The Owe’neh Bupingeh Rehabilitation Project was possible because the housing authority and the community already had experience with community engagement processes and a master plan that addressed land use and smart growth. The 60-unit Ysleta del Sur LIHTC Homes project and the 65-unit Devine Legacy project, the two largest projects, will positively affect many families in need of housing. Each project is a game changer: Ysleta del Sur LIHTC Pueblo Homes is the first tribal tax credit project in Texas, and Devine Legacy is the first mixed-income, transit-oriented development along the Phoenix Metro light-rail line. Similarly, the Kumuhau Subdivision, by providing 45 LEED Gold Homes, has proven that houses appropriately designed for climate can be competitive in the marketplace while providing significant utility savings for homeowners. The projects with the most impact are typically those that leverage most or all of these best practices simultaneously: thoughtful design and site planning, green building, innovative approaches, cultural and community engagement, and consideration for the generations to come.

55

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

RESEARCH TEAM

Jamie Blosser

AIA, LEED AP, Founder, Sustainable Native Communities Collaborative Associate, Atkin Olshin Schade Architects

Jamie Blosser, AIA, LEED AP, is the founder of the Sustainable Native Communities Collaborative (SNCC), and is an associate at Atkin Olshin Schade Architects in Santa Fe, New Mexico. From 2000 to 2003, Jamie was an Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellow at the Ohkay Owingeh Housing Authority. Jamie has facilitated trainings throughout the country on the importance of cultural and environmental sustainability, including recent work with Public Interest Design Institutes around the country, and at Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation in Montana, Spirit Lake Nation in North Dakota, Fond du Lac Band and White Earth Nation in Minnesota, and Red Cliff Band in Wisconsin. Her work has been featured in Architectural Record, Indian Country Today, Progressive Planning, and will be included in New Architecture on Indigenous Land, a new book on contemporary Native American architecture. She has led the Case Studies 2013 project, researching and showcasing exemplary Native American housing nationwide. Jamie served on the Enterprise Green Communities technical advisory group for the 2011

Criteria, helping to develop a new tribal and rural pathway for compliance. She also has serves in a number of volunteer capacities, including project reviewer for SEED certification through Design Corps, an advisory group member of the AIA Housing Knowledge Community, and a board member for the Housing Trust of Santa Fe.

Jamie graduated with a Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania.

Nathaniel Corum

Architect, Head of Education Outreach

Architecture for Humanity

Nathaniel Corum is an Architect and Head of Education Outreach with Architecture for Humanity (AfH). Nathaniel has worked with Indigenous Community Enterprises, Red Feather, and AfH on housing and community initiatives and to develop and research appropriate building prototypes and materials. His work has been featured in Architecture, Dwell, Wired and the New York Times. As a Senior Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA) Fellow, Nathaniel researches culturally appropriate development and regenerative land use. He is an integral member of the SNCC, most recently helping to provide outreach, site visits, research, and writing on exemplary Native American housing nationwide. Nathaniel runs the AfH Pac Rim Studio, involving students of architecture in regions stretching from California to Asia to develop holistic, sustainable design solutions that respond to global design challenges. He is the recipient of an Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellowship and is the author of Building a Straw Bale House from Princeton Architectural Press. Nathaniel holds an undergraduate degree from Stanford University. His Master of Architecture from the University of Texas at Austin culminated in a Fulbright Scholarship to study architectural preservation and urban poverty issues in North Africa.

Daniel J. Glenn

AIA, NCARB

Principal, 7 Directions Architects/Planners

Daniel Glenn is an architect from the Crow Nation and the principal of 7 Directions Architects, an Indian-owned design and planning firm based in Seattle. Daniel’s design work has received national and regional recognition, including the Little Big Horn College Campus in Crow Agency, Montana; being featured in the documentary film, Aboriginal Architecture: Living Architecture; and the University of Montana’s Payne Family Native American Center in Missoula, Montana, featured in Indian Country Today Magazine. He is on the Board of Directors of Navajo FlexCrete Building Systems, a subsidiary of the Navajo Housing Authority, and is a regularly invited speaker at professional and academic conferences, including HUD Office of Native American Program events across the country. An MIT-trained specialist in the design of green affordable housing, Daniel was the founding design director of the Arizona State University Stardust Center for Affordable Homes and the Family in Phoenix and ex-ecutive director of Environmental Works Community Design Center in Seattle. He has taught architectural design at Arizona State University, the University of Washington, Montana State University, and the Boston Architectural Center. His work will be included in New Architecture on Indigenous Land, a new book on contemporary Native American architecture.

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

56

SUSTAINABLE NATIVE COMMUNITIES COLLABORATIVE

Russell D. Kaney

Director of Programs, Rural and Native American Initiative

Enterprise Community Partners

Russ Kaney is director of programs for the Enterprise Rural and Native American Initiative. Russ manages key developer relationships across the country on behalf of the organization. Formerly a senior project manager for the Enterprise Community Investment syndication unit, Russ was deeply involved with transactions involving the low-income housing tax credit. Prior to joining Enterprise, Russ was an underwriter and low-income housing tax credit allocator for the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA). Russ also worked for an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as an underwriter and asset manager. While there, he assisted with the massive effort to reconstruct the devastated housing areas of south Florida following the destruction left by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Over the past 5 years, Russ has provided direct training and technical assistance to tribal housing organizations nationally, emphasizing the sourcing of capital and creation of housing units. Russ was a key partner in the Enterprise partnership with the American Indian Supportive Housing Initiative (AISHI). Russ is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has continued his real estate education at the University of Illinois and the University of Maryland. He also served as a U.S. Action/Peace Corps volunteer in South America.

Joseph Kunkel

Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellow

Santo Domingo Tribal Housing Authority (THA)/Sustainable Native Communities Collaborative Joseph Kunkel is an Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellow currently working directly with the Sustainable Native Communities Collaborative (SNCC), and the Santo Domingo Tribal Housing Authority. His most recent focus with SNCC has been to help research and showcase exemplary Native American housing nationwide, and to build and develop emerging best practices. His professional career has centered on community-based educational design.

His work ranges from material research and fabrication to community-based design and planning. Prior to the Rose Fellowship, Joseph co-led the design of two public First Nations schools in Regina, Saskatchewan, and White Horse, Yukon Territory. There, Joseph helped facilitate an integrated collaborative process where students, teachers, parents, and elders worked together to create an environment designed around culturally appropriate learning. Joseph has taught, lectured, and presented on the topics of land, culture, and place. His current work in southeast Montana on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, where he is an enrolled member, focuses on the need for culturally relevant sustainable housing. This has led to the creation of the HabLab (hablab.org), partially funded by Nike, which ties sports and wellness to education and cultural heritage. This August, HabLab will hold its third annual basketball clinic, a week-long sports and education curriculum, at Northern Cheyenne. Joseph is also working on a cultural district plan at Santo Domingo Tribe, funded by a National Endowments for the Arts (NEA) Our Town grant. Joseph received his Master of Architecture from the University of Maryland.

Ed Rosenthal

Vice President, Rural and Native American Initiative

Enterprise Community Partner

Ed Rosenthal is vice president of the Enterprise Rural and Native American Initiative. Since 2008, he has directed all of Enterprise’s rural housing development activities nationwide, with a focus on Native American and farmworker housing issues as well as rural multifamily and single-family housing preservation. Enterprise has developed more than 15,000 affordable homes in rural communities across the country with an investment of more than $800 million dollars. Previously, Ed served as director of Enterprise’s New Mexico office, where he provided a variety of financial and technical assistance tools to community development and local government organizations. Enterprise’s New Mexico-based partners have created more than 1,500 affordable homes, many incorporating green building and planning concepts, and many specifically designed to address regional inequities in access to decent housing. Ed received his law degree from Catholic University in Washington, D.C., where he helped numerous tenant organizations convert their apartment buildings into affordable housing cooperatives.

57

Best Practices in Tribal Housing: Case Studies 2013

THANK YOU

e

The 2013 Case Studies research is made possible by generous

support from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban

ativ

Development Policy Development and Research (PD&R)

Office Sustainable Construction in Indian Country grant,

and the generous donation of time from our Collaborative

ollabor

volunteers. The Sustainable Native Communities

s C

Collaborative is a program of Enterprise Community

Partners.

Thank you to all the case study teams participating in the

2013 Case Studies, and special thanks to:

ommunitie

Atkin Olshin Schade Architects

e C

Adventure Pictures

ANAGR.AM

Enterprise Rural and Native American Initiative

Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellowship

Enterprise Green Communities

tainable Nativ

us

Rural and Native American Initiative www.enterprisecommunity.org

S

Through its Enterprise Native American Program, Enterprise works with tribal and community partners to create healthy, safe, green affordable housing and to increase opportunities for economic advancement for individuals and families. Since 1997, Enterprise has invested more than $100 million in grants, loans, and equity in Native American communities and has developed more than 1,700 homes in 20 states. Nationally, Enterprise has provided training to nearly 40 tribes and tribal housing entities in financial acquisition and has worked with tribal governments to help improve regulations for increased homeownership with mortgage lenders and financial institutions.

Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellowship www.rosefellowship.org

Established in 2000, the Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellowship honors the late Frederick P. Rose, the prominent developer and philanthropist who believed strongly in the value of good design and the spirit of public service.

Administered by Enterprise, the program has achieved dramatic results in more than 40 communities. The Fellows have contributed to more than 5,000 green affordable homes and more than 40 community facilities, living proof that the long-term financial and social viability of affordable housing depends on design excellence, sustainability, and community engagement in the development of neighborhoods. The Fellowship partners promising architects with local community development organizations for 3 years. To date, there have been three Fellowships focused in Native American communities.

Enterprise Green Communities www.greencommunitiesonline.org

Enterprise Green Communities is transforming the way America thinks about, designs, builds, and rehabilitates affordable housing. Enterprise Green Communities aligns affordable housing investment strategies with environmentally responsive building practices using the Green Communities Criteria, the first national framework for healthy, efficient, environmentally smart, affordable homes. Green Communities also assists state and local governments to ensure that their housing and economic development policies are smart and sustainable. The 2011

Criteria offers three pathways for projects, based on the location of the project and surrounding development patterns. The revised criteria allow more tribal communities to participate in Green Communities.

*All information found in this document will be available on our website in a digital downloadable format.

www.sustainablenativecommunities.org

www.sustainablenativecommunities.org

Sustainable Native Communities Collaborative

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Office of Policy Development and Research

Washington, DC 20410-6000

October 2014

Document Outline

BEST PRACTICES IN TRIBAL HOUSING:CASE STUDIES 2013A REPORT BY THE SUSTAINABLE NATIVE COMMUNITIES COLLABORATIVE,AN INITIATIVE OF ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY PARTNERS

BEST PRACTICES IN TRIBAL HOUSING:

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

CASE STUDY LOCATIONS

BEST PRACTICES | DESIGN

DEVINE LEGACY

KUMUHAU SUBDIVISION

KIKUNOL HOUSING

THE GATHERING PLACE

BEST PRACTICES | SITE

NAGEEZI HOUSE

TEEKALET VILLAGE

PENOBSCOT LEED HOMES

I-SAH’-DIN’-DII, PHASE I

STRAW BALE HOMES

INNOVATION | BEST PRACTICES

BEST PRACTICES | CULTURE

NHA PLANNING MANUAL

GUADALUPE HOUSE

GOOD EARTH LODGES

PLACE OF HIDDEN WATERS

LIHTC PUEBLO HOMES

OWE’NEH BUPINGEH

ELDER HOOGHAN HOMES

BEST PRACTICES | IMPACT

RESEARCH TEAM

THANK YOU