Legacy Square

Legacy Square is a pioneering affordable housing development that blends beautiful aesthetics with forward-thinking sustainability and community-focused transit – exceptional attributes that earned a LEED for Homes Platinum Certification. Opened in mid-2023, Legacy Square features 93 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments around a central plaza, serving households earning less than 60% of the area median income; 33 apartments serve previously unhoused residents. Legacy Square secured a $10.4 million Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities grant from the Strategic Growth Council and the California Department of Housing and Community Development to extend sustainability programs throughout the neighborhood.

Residents enjoy all-electric appliances, a community recreational area, children’s play area, barbecues, gardens and 8,653 square feet of non-residential space, including space available to CBOs to deliver services to residents and the neighborhood. A 3,800-square-foot community room features a warming kitchen and computer center. Exterior walls create a charming streetscape by mimicking shops, townhomes and apartments.

A transit-oriented development, Legacy Square sits half a mile from a Metrolink station and next to a future OC Streetcar station – a significant benefit given that Santa Ana is the nation’s fourth-densest city with limited car ownership. To assist with alternative transit, Legacy Square provides a free onsite bike repair program. The community boasts a stellar “walker’s paradise” rating with an impressive 98% walk score.

Sustainability is woven throughout the design. The all-electric project deploys highly efficient heat pumps for both HVAC and hot water heating. Cool roofing materials and tight building envelopes reduce energy demands. Green spaces with drought-tolerant landscaping enhance stormwater management. A heat pump water system (3.5 times more efficient than gas boilers) minimizes water waste. A 153kW DC rooftop solar panel system generates 241,600 KWh of clean energy – 36% of Legacy Square’s total need.

HERS-verified HVAC/energy systems are sized to match the building envelope. LED lighting in common areas, parking garage and corridors employs occupancy sensors. Surpassing state requirements, low-flow toilets use 0.8 gallons per flush, lavatory faucets deliver 0.5 gallons per minute (gpm), kitchen faucets deliver 1.5 gpm and showers deliver 1.75 gpm. Along with ultra-efficient washing and dishwashing machines, these measures reduce water use to 36% below code standards. Irrigation systems include drip and subsurface with rain and moisture sensors.

To address changes in precipitation forecast by CalAdapt, linear modular wetlands filter stormwater pollutants at two corners of the development. The $10.4 million state grant obtained by National CORE funded urban greening projects, including street trees and a pocket park, plus paid for regional rail line upgrades, bike lanes and safe routes to school through Legacy Square’s neighborhood.

Relying on electric appliances and heating systems not only reduces Legacy’s Square’s carbon footprint but slashes asthma risks to children and boosts overall air quality by eliminating gas-related toxins. Use of low- or non-toxic volatile organic compounds in paints, coatings, sealants, adhesives and flooring further ensures cleaner air for residents. Breezy, open-air corridors and green space and play areas in the vast central courtyard invite residents to enjoy the outdoors in a safe, secure environment.