June 4, 2009 – The City of Issaquah and its partners have received a 2009 Governor’s Smart Communities Award for their efforts to encourage transit-oriented development near the Issaquah Highlands Park & Ride.

Called the “Smart Partnerships Award,” the honor recognizes the development and assignment agreements for the YWCA’s 146-unit affordable housing project, as well as a neighborhood of 10 zero net-energy townhomes called zHome.

Years ago, the City recognized that it had the opportunity to encourage affordable – and sustainable – housing near the new 1,000-stall park and ride at the Issaquah Highlands. Since then, it has contributed $5.3 million to purchase land for the projects.

As a vision for the development was refined, partnerships were also formed with several parties, including King County, ARCH, Puget Sound Energy, Master Builders of King and Snohomish Counties, the YWCA, Howland Homes and Port Blakely Communities.

“As we all work toward our common goals of transit-oriented development and sustainability, this award reinforces how valuable our partnerships truly are,” said Issaquah Mayor Ava Frisinger.

Along with 146 affordable apartments, the YWCA Family Village will also include family support services, a childcare center, meeting rooms, outdoor gathering spaces, pedestrian access to the park and ride and environmentally-friendly design that meets or exceeds LEED silver and Built Green standards. The majority of financing for the first phase of the project is now secured, and construction could start either late 2009 or early 2010.

zHome will be the first multi-family, production, zero-energy, carbon neutral community in the United States. The primary goal of zHome is to serve as an inspirational demonstration project for sustainable building practices that go far beyond the average “green home,” yet are replicable and affordable. Permits are now ready, and funding for the project is being finalized. For more information, click here.

For more information on the Governor’s Smart Communities Awards, click here.