Oleson Woods captures essence of ‘green’ construction

The affordable-housing complex is not only environmentally friendly inside but also enhances the outdoors

By Barbara Sherman

The Times, Jan 8, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009

Jaime Valdez / Pamplin Media Group

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE — Martin Soloway, deputy director of housing at Community Partners for Affordable Housing, walks along a pathway outside townhouses that face a wetlands in the complex.

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We should all be so lucky as to live in Oleson Woods, an affordable-housing complex off Oleson Road that is owned and operated by Community Partners for Affordable Housing.

The 36-unit townhouse-style complex on 3.1 acres opened just over a year ago to national acclaim for its innovative use of environmental-friendly construction and maintenance plus the restoration and enhancement of a 7,500-square-foot wetlands on the property.

“We are so incredibly proud,” said Martin Soloway, CPAH’s deputy director of housing.

The complex, which is sandwiched in between other apartment complexes that were not created so earth friendly, is designed like a little village with a 1,500-square-foot community center, townhouses facing an open space in the middle that serves as a playground and activity center, and parking close by but off to the side.

“Part of our philosophy is to separate people from their cars,” Soloway said. “We also preserved as many trees as possible and kept the canopy, plus we planted native woodland plants – Oregon grape, grasses, little roses, rhododendrons. We took everything out – except for old snags that we left to preserve the bird environment – and put in native plants. Instead of a sprinkler system, we put in drip irrigation.

“And we voluntarily restored a dry wetlands and added a stormwater swale, which gives us storm-water management. The first day it rained, the wetlands filled up, and two ducks came in.”

Pedestrian paths and walking trails also enhance the access to nature

Each townhouse features a front patio and small yard, which allows renters to decorate and personalize them.

“We planted the front yards and maintain them, but they feel like it’s their front yard,” Soloway said. “Part of green building is breaking the cycle of poverty and promoting healthy living.

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