CommonBond Communities: Century Trails Apartments on track to achieve LEED for Homes Gold Level Certification

Final phase of CommonBond Maplewood housing developments now complete

MINNEAPOLIS (Sept.9, 2010) – CommonBond Communities announces the completion of Century Trails senior housing in Maplewood, Minn. — a 40-unit apartment building on track to achieve LEED for Homes Gold Level Certification. The development focuses primarily on four essential building components: site stewardship, building enclosure, indoor air quality, and materials to achieve certification. Ryan Companies US, Inc. completes construction on the 34,141-square-foot property this month.

“Century Trails marks the final phase of an innovative housing and services campus located adjacent to the St. Paul Monastery in Maplewood,” stated Paul Fate, president and CEO of CommonBond. “We are proud to partner with Ryan on this and other efforts because we know they deliver a top-quality product that meets our high standards for energy efficiency and sustainability.”

A leader in sustainable apartment living

Century Trails demonstrates CommonBond’s continued commitment to incorporating cost-effective green environmental practices in both its housing communities and its organizational operations. Geothermal heating and cooling, energy-efficient windows, the use of VOC paints and sealants, attention to proper recycling of construction materials and preservation of native landscaping will help the property achieve LEED for Homes Gold level certification.

Project partners provide affordable homes for an aging population

The vision for this senior property and an adjacent CommonBond property for families began when the Sisters of the St. Paul Monastery decided to build affordable homes for people in need on Monastery land. Century Trails fills a critical housing need for seniors living on fixed incomes. Seniors 62 or older earning 50% of area median income (AMI), or $29,400 for a single adult, can qualify to live at Century Trails Apartments. Residents pay 30% of their income in rent. Applications are available by calling the CommonBond property hotline for a prerecorded message at 651-291-1750 or by visiting CommonBond.org

This development represents the dedicated efforts of several partners. CommonBond Communities is the developer and property manager while Ryan constructed the building and collaborated with CommonBond on the HUD section 202 financing process. Pope Architects designed the three-story wood-frame structure to meet the high-quality, sustainable building criteria needed to achieve certification. Financing partners include HUD as part of the 202 Capital Grant award, Ramsey County Community Development Block Grant, and a reduced land price by the Sisters of the St. Paul Monastery. CommonBond will add Advantage Services for residents as the needs of the resident population are determined.

Developed and administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, the LEED rating system is designed to promote design and construction practices that increase sustainability while reducing the negative environmental impacts of buildings and improving occupant health and well-being.

About CommonBond Communities

For 40 years, CommonBond Communities has provided stable homes, strong futures, and vibrant communities. The organization is the region’s largest nonprofit housing developer, manager and service provider, operating 5,000 rental apartments and townhomes throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. Close to 8,000 people – families, seniors and people with disabilities and other barriers, call CommonBond home. Gifts to a Kresge Foundation challenge grant will help the organization continue to transform lives, engage the local community and provide housing as a long-term asset to surrounding neighborhoods. For more information visit: http://www.commonbond.org.

About Ryan Companies, US, Inc.

Ryan Companies US, Inc., a nationally recognized builder, developer, designer and real estate manager, has specialized in fully integrated solutions for more than 70 years. Ryan builds lasting relationships with a project delivery model based on full-service customized solutions and total collaboration – pairing the customer’s needs and expectations with the talents of a team of constructors, developers, financiers, architects, engineers, and property managers. In addition to its Minneapolis office, Ryan has offices in Chicago, Phoenix, San Diego, Tampa, Fla., and Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Des Moines, Iowa.