KTGY-designed Homes for Habitat for Humanity of Orange County Celebrate Opening

KTGY designed and completed Habitat for Humanity of Orange County's first homes built in Yorba Linda, Calif. KTGY has been committed to working with Habitat for Humanity throughout California. Recently, KTGY was called upon to develop the next series of homes for Habitat for Humanity in northern California, which will be going after LEED Platinum status. End Quote

Orange County, CA (1888PressRelease) November 23, 2009 - Award-winning KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, is pleased to announce the completion of its design of three single-family homes for Habitat for Humanity of Orange County at Yorba Linda Avenue and Park Avenue in Yorba Linda, Calif. An unveiling celebration was held on Saturday, November 21, 2009. This is Habitat for Humanity of Orange County's first homes built in Yorba Linda.

One affordable Habitat home was dedicated in a traditional Habitat ceremony. The keys to this home were presented to the family who built the home and who purchased this home under the regular Habitat model. This is Habitat's 135th home in Orange County. Two homes are to be sold to moderate-income families who will secure their own financing under Habitat for Humanity of Orange County's new "Mixed-Income Model." Habitat's "Mixed-Income Model," which includes homes for low-income and moderate-income families within the same development, will provide more workforce housing for families in Orange County.

KTGY donated its architectural services as well as assisted in the construction of these craftsman-style homes in Yorba Linda on "Build Day." Earlier in the year, in recognition of KTGY's considerable contributions to Habitat for Humanity, KTGY was awarded Habitat for Humanity's 2009 Dream Builder Award at the organization's Fifth Annual "Doorways to the Future" gala awards dinner and auction. Habitat for Humanity of Orange County is dedicated to ending substandard housing and building strong communities in Orange County and the Dream Builder Award recognizes those companies that have made a substantial donation of time and resources to Habitat for Humanity of Orange County.

"Many thanks to Jill Williams, Tien Shen and their entire team from KTGY for designing such beautiful homes," said Mark Korando, senior vice president, Habitat for Humanity of Orange County. "We look forward to working with KTGY in the future to create more attractive, affordable homes for hard-working families in Orange County."

KTGY has been committed to working with Habitat for Humanity throughout northern and southern California. Recently, KTGY was called upon to develop the next series of homes for Habitat for Humanity in northern California, which will be going after LEED Platinum status. Last year, KTGY designed and assisted with the building of Habitat for Humanity of Orange County's four homes in Anaheim on East Julianna Street.

KTGY's team of experienced single-family architects are able to make the best use of all the available square footage on a small infill site to create attractive, very livable and comfortable homes that are in harmony with the neighborhood.
"The land plan is as important as the exterior design," says Yorba Linda's project designer Jill Williams, AIA and principal with KTGY. "Also, it is important that the homes are not only of a high quality, but also take advantage of a certain simplicity in framing since Habitat for Humanity uses a volunteer workforce."

Williams adds, "These three homes in Yorba Linda carry on the beautiful, historic precedent of this great neighborhood with sitting porches, two-car garages turned to the rear and accessed from a private drive, and a material palette that is reminiscent of the era with shingles and clapboard siding."

As part of Habitat for Humanity of Orange County's "mixed-income model," two of the three-bedroom homes will house a family earning up to 120 percent of the area median income ($100,900 for a family of four) and one for a family earning 50 percent of the area median income ($46,500 for a family of four). Habitat families are required to provide 500 hours of "sweat equity" to help build their own home, assist another Habitat family build a home, or work in some other part of the Habitat organization.

"It is exciting to help end substandard housing and provide hardworking families with an opportunity to share in the American Dream of homeownership," says Williams. KTGY has considerable experience designing market rate housing as well as affordable and workforce housing working with leading non-profit housing developers like Jamboree Housing, BRIDGE Housing and South County Housing Corporation. Earlier this year, KTGY celebrated the grand opening of Jamboree Housing Corporation's Diamond Apartment Homes in Anaheim, a pioneering green multifamily development that provides both housing and mental health supportive services for previously homeless individuals and their families in Orange County. In addition to Diamond Apartment Homes, KTGY has designed and completed several other affordable apartment communities for Jamboree Housing including Monarch Pointe Apartment Homes in Anaheim, Ceres Court Apartment Homes in Fontana, and Granite Court in Irvine.

"What a great way to participate in building communities of hope, dignity and self-worth through the construction of quality, affordable housing," says Tricia Esser, KTGY's CEO. "Today, corporate social responsibility goes far beyond the old philanthropy of the past - donating money to good causes at the end of the financial year - and is instead an all year round responsibility that companies must accept for the environment around them, for the best working practices, and for their engagement with the local and world communities. We at KTGY are sincerely dedicated to making a difference in the communities where we work, live, play and design."

KTGY is also an active supporter of HomeAid, the charitable arm of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Currently, KTGY has a project under construction in northern California for the developmentally disabled. This project, located in Hayward, is a joint venture between HomeAid of Northern California and Emerald Glen Homes in the site development and construction of five six-bedroom homes. Emerald Glen is a not-for-profit organization committed to providing quality homes and special support to the adult and aging developmentally disabled population of Alameda County and Hayward.

About Habitat for Humanity of Orange County
Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, headquartered in Santa Ana, CA, is dedicated to ending substandard housing and building strong communities in Orange County. Habitat uses non-government donations of funding, materials, professional services and volunteer labor to build simple, decent homes which are sold to qualified low-income families for a 1% down payment, closing costs, and a zero-interest mortgage. Mortgage payments are recycled to build more Habitat homes. Habitat families contribute 500 hours of "sweat equity" to the program by building their own home, helping another Habitat family build a home, or working in some other area of the Habitat organization. Habitat for Humanity families and volunteers have built 134 homes in Orange County since 1988, and are currently building five homes in San Juan Capistrano, three homes in Yorba Linda, two homes in Fullerton and two homes in Westminster. For more information, see www.habitatoc.org.

About KTGY Group, Inc.
Established in 1991, KTGY Group, Inc., Architecture and Planning, provides comprehensive planning and award-winning architectural design services for residential communities, retail, hospitality, mixed-use and related specialty developments. KTGY delivers innovative solutions that reflect clear understanding of development, marketing and financial performance and takes particular pride in its highly motivated and principal led studios. Serving clients worldwide, KTGY maintains offices in Irvine, Oakland, Santa Monica, and in Denver. See www.ktgy.com.

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