Mogavero Architects

Yuba City Senior Housing

yuba

Situated at the end of an aging downtown main street, this 28-unit senior housing complex serves as a link between an urban environment and a residential neighborhood.

The design of the porches and walkways encourage interaction with street activity and community while providing eyes on the street.

The complex provides an urban edge to the street, but is set back with front entry porches that respond to adjacent lower density residential neighbors and provide defensible space.  Corner ‘sentry’ forms create a sense of arrival and imply security through surveillance.

The two-story buildings are composed of 26 one-bedroom flats with two-bedroom flats located at each corner. Each unit is equipped with an emergency call system and full handicap accessibility from an interior courtyard via an elevator and second floor walkways. Common space includes a recreation room, kitchen, storage, and laundry facilities.

The humanistic design of the semi-private porches and walkways encourage interaction with street activity and community while providing eyes on the street. The semi-private interior courtyard provides lawn and hardscape for outdoor community gatherings. Each apartment has a porch to provide a semi-private territory so that residents can create their own community.

To achieve the relatively high density (36 units per acre) and still allow adequate open space, one building is built over a portion of the on-site parking spaces. This parking area is protected by a security gate and has elevator access.

The project used HUD HOME and City funding assistance.