Prairie Heights Residences in Eau Claire, a collaborative development by West CAP and Gerrard Corporation, officially opened its doors on July 2nd, marking a significant milestone for sustainable and affordable living in Wisconsin. This development introduces geothermal heating and cooling as a first-of-its-kind feature for an affordable housing project in the state. Beyond its cutting-edge energy system, the project covers 100% of all utilities, including air conditioning and electricity, directly reducing the financial burden on its residents.
West CAP Executive Director, Tim Mather, spoke at the Ribbon Cutting Event. “Our development partners, the Gerrards, left no stone unturned (metaphorically or literally) on this lot to build not only affordable housing for those that live here, but housing that is more sustainable for its stakeholders, and the environment we all share. And this is no easy task.”
“The location of this development is intentional and hosts more than a few attributes that lend itself to a project of this nature. First, it lies within a HUD Qualified Census Tract – meaning over half of its households earn less than 60% of the Area Median Income. This designation is significant in that it provides validity (not to mention points) for this project. In other words, it’s needed here. Along with an adjacent bike path and public transportation stop, the transportation related attributes of this location qualified it to score a little higher and will provide access to more affordable and reliable transportation (and recreation) for its residents. The lot’s orientation and exposure are well-suited for the solar arrays on the roof and ground, and it facilitated the geothermal wells located under the building. Along with an energy-efficient building design, including the use of air-source heat pumps, the folks that live here now, and in the future, will benefit from the long-term dividends of these efforts.”