GHI is excited to continue our collaboration with Christin Kappel to advanced residential sustainability and ensure you all are accurately rating your projects and getting the resources you need to serve your clients better. Christin has been a LEED for Homes Facilitator with us since 2010 and has been actively involved in over 500 buildings and 3,000 living units. She is the owner of Simply Sustainable LLC, a sustainability verification and consulting firm based in Indianapolis as well as the Past Board Chair for the U.S. Green Building Council Indiana Chapter.

Simply Sustainable LLC. is a WBE certified, sustainability consulting and verification firm focused primarily on helping underserved markets and communities.  She started her company to fill a need in the affordable and subsidized housing market for qualified green professionals to assist design and construction teams in meeting federal, state as well as local funding requirements, including but not limited to programs such as LEED, Energy Star, Enterprise and the National Green Building Standard. She assists in helping her teams not only create attainable goals but also meet their performance goals while providing truly affordable housing for seniors, veterans, homeless and families across the Midwest.

Moving forward all your new projects and some more recently registered projects will be assigned to Christin to handle.

GreenHome Institute continues Green Affordable Housing Initiative after receiving Wege Foundation Grant. 

Grand Rapids, MI February 2018

Thanks to a 2018 Wege Foundation Grant, the GreenHome Institute will continue working on the Grand Rapids Green Affordable Housing Initiative this year.

This program helps residential developers get access to education, training, resources, credentials, energy modeling and certification services to ensure that families have affordable utility costs and healthy living spaces.

The Wege grant allows the GreenHome Institute to be part of the solution to the affordable housing shortfall in the City of Grand Rapids. Spurring development in greener affordable housing projects will put more money in the pockets of people who need it, and reduce healthcare costs through healthier living spaces.

Affordable housing by definition means homes or apartments set aside for at least those making less than the area median income who may have trouble buying or renting with increased home values. Along with this, Grand Rapids recently announced some affordable housing initiatives that GHI will align with and support. The program also supports senior, veteran, homeless, youth and all supportive housing types.

“As part of the Keeler Flats I + II Development Team, we started working with GHI almost Two (2) years ago. It has been wonderful! We have learned how to couple affordable/workforce housing with energy modeling strategies for the benefit the tenants, our community and beyond. This is a social-economic victory and GHI should be commended for providing the education, inspiration, and empowerment. ” Jeffrey P. Dombrowski  Keeler Flats Development Team.

The program requires developers to follow a 3rd party green certification such as LEED for Homes, GreenStar, the DOE Home Energy Score or a few other valid programs. This helps gain them access to some types of incentives and ensures projects meet high-level water/energy efficiency and health standards.

“Well House began working with Green Home Institute a few years ago.  We started small, working to get our home scores improved and under the DOE Home Energy Score.  After completing many energy efficiency improvements to our homes, we decided to take on a full LEED renovation with help from Catalyst Partners and GHI.  It’s been a great experience.” Tami VandenBerg, Well House Executive Director.

GHI will be hosting green building introductory courses all year and working hands-on with developers along with funding their green certification costs.

Developers and those who are interested can learn more at greenhomeinstitute.org/grand-rapids-green-affordable-housing/

The GreenHome Institute is hosting a kick-off informational meeting at the Inner City Christian Federation located in the East Hills on March 1 from 6 to 8 pm.

About the GreenHome Institute

The GreenHome Institute is a Grand Rapids-based nonprofit that has been around for 18 years with a mission to empower people to make healthier and more sustainable choices in the renovation and construction of places we live. They helped certify over 8,500 green homes and trained over 30,000 people on building better.

About the Wege Foundation

The Wege Foundation is a 50-year-old Foundation in Grand Rapids Michigan started by Peter Melvin Wege out of his love for the Earth and all its people. The Wege Foundation has five major pillars which include; environment, education, health, the arts, community service and education. The foundation hosts a lecture speaker each year bringing an internationally renowned speaker to Aquinas College. The foundation originally funded GHI’s Executive Director Position in 2005 and the first Green Affordable Housing program in 2014. More recently the foundation has supported green development through Habitat for Humanity, the Inner City Christian Federation, Well House, Camp Newaygo, the West MI Environmental Action Council and the USGBC West MI Battle of the Buildings.

Contact

Brett Little
Executive Director
GreenHome Institute
616.458.6733
Brett.Little@greenhomeinstitute.org
GreenHomeInstitute.org

“Danny is a sustainability consultant for the Sustainable Research Group, working on projects that range from climate change risk assessments, green product certifications, life-cycle assessments, energy analysis, and greenhouse gas calculations. His passion and interests are rooted around sustainable buildings, affordable housing, and community development. He previously worked providing engineering services to improve housing conditions on Native American Reservations in Montana and South Dakota. In Grand Rapids, he worked as the Director of Sustainability for Well House, an organization that provides housing to people who are homeless. He is an alumni of and serves as chair of the board for Bike & Build, a non-profit organization that leads cross-country cycling trips to raise money and awareness for affordable housing. Danny earned his bachelors in Civil Engineering from Tufts University, and his Masters in Sustainable Building Systems from the University of Colorado-Boulder. In his spare time, he is an avid rock climber, and co-founded and co-chairs the West Michigan chapter of the American Alpine Club.”

With nearly 20 years of experience in housing program management, I am a dedicated, highly committed leader in real estate with extensive expertise in community assistance and outreach, mortgage lending, and commercial and residential real estate development. I have always focused on doing what’s best for my customers – and that means working with them to identify loan and housing options that best meet their needs while minimizing company risk. I have brought this dedication and expertise with me into highly successful entrepreneurial roles, where I have successfully managed all aspects of operations, sales, and business development to achieve significant market growth and profitability while launching new products and programs. Much of my success can be attributed not only to my aggressive drive and extensive knowledge, but to my ability to liaise with key stakeholders, brokers, government officials, and other contacts to make progress on major projects. In addition, I possess the unique knowledge of managing a 501(c)(3) organization, and the highly specialized requirements inherent.

Developer/Member/Owner
Company Name
Keeler Flats I + II Limited Dividend Housing Association Limited Partnership
Dates Employed
Dec 2016 – Present
Employment Duration
1 yr 2 mos
Location
Greater Grand Rapids, Michigan Area
Keeler Flats I & II is a proposed 132 unit adaptive use rehabilitation + affordable housing development to be located at 56 N. Division Ave., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503. Keeler Flats I & II will have (72) one bed-room units, (48) two- bedroom units and (12) three-bedroom units. Unit types will be rented to individuals and families. Keeler Flats I & II will serve residents earning a maximum of 60% AMI. Thirty three (33%) percent of the units (42) will be set aside to provide housing for special needs individuals. Both the developer and Indian Trails Camp/IKUS www.ikuslife.org are working with MSHDA’s Permanent Supportive Housing Team toward 42 +/- Project Based Vouchers. Indian Trails Camp/IKUS will provide the PSH/special needs leadership and services. The 1st floor is 23,500 square feet. Twenty Five (25%) percent or 5,875 SF of the 1st floor is poised to be built out as a community day center for those with special needs from Kent and surrounding counties and managed by staff of Indian Trails Camp/IKUS. The Community Day Center will be designed to offer a 1) computer lab 2) vocational center 3) art studio and 4) exercise and fitness center. The 132 residential units with be located on floors 2-7. The remainder of the 1st floor (17,625 SF) will be leased out in a market rate commercial setting at $14.00/SF NNN.

Keeler Flats I & II will enhance the vitality of downtown by infusing energy into the historic Keeler Furniture Exhibition Building. By reusing and restoring the Keeler Building to its optimized state Keeler Flats, LLC will yield 132 residential units and 23,500 square feet of commercial space for the community and tenants benefit(s). The site 56 N. Division Ave., has a 97 WalkScore and Nine (9) transit stops less than 1/10th of a mile from the building’s door step. Keeler Flats will expand both the City of Grand Rapids employment base as well as the residential population. Using the Implan methodology Keeler Flats is estimated to 231

Investment Property Advisor

Sperry Van Ness
Investment Property Advisor
Company Name
Sperry Van Ness
Dates Employed
Mar 2015 – Present
Employment Duration
2 yrs 11 mos
Location Greater Grand Rapids, Michigan Area

Buyer Representation, Seller Representation, Development – Mixed Use, Mixed Income, Mixed Finance, Capital Structure + Strategy, Multifamily Communities, LIHTC Properties and Communities, Due Diligence Navigation, Ability to deliver a mix of public and private financing strategies including low-income housing tax credits, new market tax credits, bond financing, public subsidy, and real estate tax exemptions. Special needs housing. Historic preservation + Adaptive – Re-Use. Community oriented commercial settings. Service enhanced housing. Artists live/work space(s). This capital structuring leads to lower leveraged, sustainable financing, PACE, NEW AFFORDABILITY, Net Zero Energy, Eco-Districts +

Chief Executive Officer
Company Name
West Michigan Housing Alliance
Dates Employed
Jul 2012 – Present
Employment Duration
5 yrs 7 mos
Location
Greater Grand Rapids, Michigan Area
Launched a pivotal new business venture centered on a major community partner initiative for community development and affordable housing in undeserved, low-income, and disenfranchised demographics in 15 counties. Oversee all aspects of program development for technical assistance and home mortgage products, including integrating USDA Section 502 and 538 loan guarantee programs to provide free – limited cost services. Increase outreach through grassroots marketing and referrals, as well as a highly accessible website. Orchestrate new product launches. Define processes for loan underwriting, due diligence, and risk assessment. Coordinate business planning and strategy. Attained exempt status as a housing-based mission by developing compelling narratives and pro formas before filing Form 1023 to the IRS under section 501(c)(3). Gained Section 502 Direct Loan Packager Certification under the United States Department of Agriculture and the Office of the Inspector General. Secured a solid position as an emerging Community Development Institution with the United States Treasury

Morna Hallsaxton is the lead auditor for BIFMA e3 Furniture Sustainability Standard for level certification and certification auditor for Intertek’s ETL Environmental VOC emission testing. Her Interior Design degree and Masters in Environmental Design allows her to further advocate and educate students and interested parties on sustainable design and construction. Morna obtained her LEED AP for BD+C and ID+C while working as a LEED Project Reviewer for over 250 LEED 2009 projects from all over the work. As a WELL AP, she continues to discuss healthy, energy efficient design choices with friends, acquaintances and on her website EcoCreative.design.

Job title: Sustainable Geek … better to say Sustainable Designer

David Dye, AIA, LEED AP Homes, is a Project Architect at DFD Architecture, LLC  in Spring Lake, Michigan.  He consults on commercial projects and designs sustainable homes. He is designing a LEED home for his wife Darcy on Sebascodegan Island in Maine.   He is consulting on the renovation of the Masjid Sunnah Mosque in Grand Rapids, MI.

Mr. Dye is the Secretary of the GreenHome Institute Board of Directors.   He teaches architecture courses part-time at Grand Rapids Community College(GRCC.  He retired from GRCC in 2016, where he taught as a Professor for 18 years.

While teaching at GRCC he accomplished the following:

• Created and taught classes on sustainable residential design where students designed houses for Habitat for Humanity of Kent County (HFHKC).  One design has been built and is now one of six prototypes HFHKC uses.  Another student design is being used as the first floor for another prototype.
• Established the U.S. Green Building Council Student Group of GRCC, so students could learn sustainable design and construction.  The student group was active.  In 2010, they traveled to the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Chicago.  In 2013, they volunteered at the Expo in Philadelphia and in 2015 the Expo in Washington DC.  During February 2016, they  sponsored the MIdwest Sustainable Conference which was a 3 day conference.  Some of the speakers included local experts such as Levi Gardner who talked about “The Pedagogy of Place: Fostering Community Through Urban Agriculture” and Brett Little  who presented “Introduction into Green Rating Systems and how they compare”   The student group also helped local organizations such as Dominican Center Sisters to maintain their Michigan Native Prairie Habitat.
• Coordinated GRCC’s transfer program to Lawrence Technological University’s Master of Architecture Program. Students take the first two years of classes at GRCC and then transfer to Lawrence Tech to complete the Master of Architecture program.
• Taught courses in AutoCAD, Autodesk Revit Architecture, Construction Materials, Sketching and Drafting, and Working Drawings, developing course materials.

Mr. Dye does yoga, walks, kayaks, and bicycles to stay fit.  He travels with his wife Darcy to visit friends, relatives, and to see new places in the world.

Kris Hunter is an owner of two West Michigan based companies—Hunter Energy Resources LLC, a solar PV system design and installation firm and Global Battery Solutions LLC, an advanced chemistry battery solutions provider. She has been an active advocate for the advancement of energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy for over 10 years and has participated in many grassroots efforts to educate community members—leading seminars for faith-based organizations, educational institutions and local youth groups. Kris has been involved with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, GreenMichigan.org, and has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association (glrea.org).