Sunnyside Apartments: Design That Restores Dignity

What does it mean to design a home for someone who hasn't had one recently? This 27-unit residence by Lehrer Architects offers one answer. This project, a fully affordable multi-family residence for chronically homeless individuals, makes a quiet but powerful case: that dignified, community-centered design is not a luxury -- it is the baseline from which recovery and belonging become possible.

The unit mix with 23 units for low-income residents, three for moderate-income households, and one manager's unit, reflects a deliberate commitment to economic integration within a single building. As a publicly funded project, every design decision was made in the open. Far from a constraint, this accountability produced an unusually rigorous and inclusive built environment. The building is genuinely navigable and welcoming for residents of all abilities.

The ground floor gathering room anchors the building's social life. It's the kind of space that recognizes a truth often overlooked in supportive housing design: people need somewhere to be together, not just somewhere to sleep.

Additionally, in a city where green space is distributed unequally, placing a garden at the top of a supportive housing building is a design statement, telling residents wellness and beauty belong here too.

Join us at 11am on May 16th for a tour of the project with Lehrer Architects’ founder Michael Lehrer as well as a representative from developer HOLOS to hear how this project is more than housing. It’s a catalyst for stability, health, and neighborhood revitalization.

This event is ADA accessible. There should be ample street parking available but as always, public transit and rideshare are encouraged.

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SUNNYSIDE TOUR WITH LEHRER ARCHITECTS

SUNNYSIDE APARTMENTS: DESIGN THAT RESTORES DIGNITY