ORANGE, CA-The new Depot Walk project by Seal Beach-based Olson Homes has become the first attached new home development in the state to earn a LEED certification, Olson reports. The project is a townhouse-style multifamily development that has been designated for LEED Silver certification.

Additionally, Depot Walk is Orange County's first all-solar multifamily community and has been recognized by the US Green Building Council as a participant in the LEED for Homes pilot program. More than 80 builders, including 13 affordable housing developers, have registered residential projects in the LEED for Homes program.

Located on Maple Avenue at Pixley Street within Orange's Old Towne Historic District, Depot Walk offers the first new housing there in 25 years. The project features California Brownstone townhomes, of which three are live-work units, and five are integrated affordable housing. Prices begin in the low $500,000 range.

Bill Holford, Olson's regional president of Southern California in-town communities, says that the Depot Walk project is an effort to "embrace--as much as possible--sustainable building practices." The project "has been transformative for our company with regard to how we will build homes in the future," Holford comments.

Depot Walk's solar systems will be provided by SunPower Corp., a publicly held company based in the Silicon Valley that manufactures solar cells, solar panels and solar systems. Olson estimates that the solar systems will provide up to 50% of the electrical power for the homes at Depot Walk.

Olson Homes will work with Davis Energy Group to ensure the Depot Walk homes meet the standards of the Green Council's LEED for Homes program. Eleven local and regional organizations, called LEED for Homes Pilot Providers, have formal responsibility for rating LEED Homes.