Loussac Manor — Anchorage, AK
The Loussac Manor redevelopment is planned to create a vibrant, safe and family friendly community. That it includes a mix of affordable, workforce and market rate housing is really beside the point — it will be a great place to live for anyone.
The site is an existing eight acre public housing project that is targeted as a priority redevelopment area by the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation. Working with Vitus Development, Weber Thompson developed a proposal for this site’s redevelopment.
The master plan takes cues from the site. The homes face an existing park, as well as a new common green that will form the social heart of the community. In all, two acres, or ¼ of the eight acre site is devoted to useable open space that will support families, community functions and activities for all ages. With cars and garages to the rear, and front porches and entrances on green spaces, the emphasis is on the pedestrian, not cars; on shared activity, not individual isolation. There are opportunities to meet and greet neighbors daily.
Further, the community is connected by walking trails to transit, parks, a community P-patch, schools and shopping. By providing a Head Start facility on site, the larger Anchorage Community is invited to Loussac Manor.
A diverse housing mix for 120 homes, from one to four bedrooms, with a high number of accessible units, was developed to appeal to a diverse group of future residents including families, singles, seniors and special needs residents. Responding to the active lifestyles in Anchorage, the homes have substantial storage and even lockable gun cabinets.