Construction crews have begun preparing the site for a new 50-unit affordable apartment rental community on the southeast corner of Hermosa Street and Westwood Avenue in Lindsay. The rental project, known as Palm Terrace, is the first affordable rental community built by Self-Help Enterprises in Lindsay. 

Palm Terrace is a highly energy efficient and transit-friendly project. Sustainable features include solar PV, graywater recycling system, water conservation measures, and a vanpool program in partnership with the California Vanpool Authority that will transport residents from Palm Terrace and the surrounding community to and from work. The project's solar PV system will offset the power used in the common area, residential loads, and community center, making Palm Terrace a grid neutral Zero Net Energy project. This will result in reduced utility bills for residents and the property, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.

In addition to securing $4.4 million of Cap and Trade Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) funding for the housing project, Self-Help Enterprises secured $1.4 million in grant funding for the City of Lindsay to construct a roundabout, sidewalks, and bike lanes at the intersection of Westwood Avenue and Hermosa Street. The roundabout will calm traffic and improve the safety for students accessing Jefferson Elementary School, located north of the site. This intersection is a documented safety concern in the community, and the improvements will promote non-motorized transit to access the school, shopping center and bus stop, which are all located within a quarter mile of the site. 

Palm Terrace will feature one-, two- and three-bedroom units, with a community building, laundry facility, playground, community garden, and open space for residents. The community building will include a computer lab, which will be available to adults and children for schoolwork and educational activities. Resident service programs will also be offered to enhance the everyday lives and futures of the residents. 

By offering low monthly rents, ranging from $310 to $720, to working families at or below 50% of Area Median Income, Self-Help Enterprises is providing an affordable housing opportunity that will serve the needs of these families.

Palm Terrace is financed through a combination of AHSC program funds, Multifamily Housing Program (MHP) funding, low-income housing tax credits, and Affordable Housing Program (AHP) funds though the San Francisco Federal Home Loan Bank, sponsored by Wells Fargo Bank. The AHSC program is administered through a partnership between the Strategic Growth Council and the Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) and is funded by Cap-and-Trade proceeds. Construction loan financing is provided by JP Morgan Chase. Tax credit equity is being provided through the National Equity Fund, with Morgan Stanley as the primary investor.

Palm Terrace is projected to be complete by fall 2018. In addition to the construction of Palm Terrace, the second phase of the project will include a 54-unit rental community expected to be completed in the fall of 2019. 

Self-Help Enterprises held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate its new shade structure. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) awarded a grant for the new structure, which provides shade over the play area at Villa de Guadalupe, Self-Help Enterprises' apartment rental community in Orosi. Visalia dermatologist Joy Torakawa, MD, FAAD, a member of the Academy, sponsored the grant application and was in attendance to educate about the importance of sun protection.

The Shade Structure Program grant provided $8,000 in matching funds for the purchase and installation of a permanent shade structure over the play structure at Villa de Guadalupe. Self-Help Enterprises is one of several organizations this year to receive a grant from the AAD's Shade Structure Program. The remaining cost to complete the shade structure was provided by Self-Help Enterprises as part of the organization's Healthy Homes Initiative to improve healthy environments for children and residents.

With temperatures reaching above 90 degrees for several days in the summer, the shade structure will protect the 95 children residing at Villa de Guadalupe from the risks of sun exposure. The new shade structure over the playground will also increase exercise and recreation activities, especially during the hottest months when the playground equipment may have been too hot for use previously.

"As a mom of four active kids, I want to make sure my children are protected from excessive sun exposure. The shade structure protects my kids and I don't have to cut down our playtime outside," said Maria Gomez, resident of Villa de Guadalupe.

Since the Academy founded the Shade Structure Grant Program in 2000, more than 320 shade structure grants have been awarded to organizations across the country.  The Shade Structure Grant Program is part of the Academy's SPOT Skin Cancer™ campaign to reduce the incidence of skin cancer by educating the public about effective skin cancer prevention tips .