In permanent supportive housing and other residential communities, the common areas residents use daily are as important as the units themselves.
At Imperial Contracting, our adaptive reuse and renovation portfolio across the Western United States has proven time and again how much common areas pay off in resident retention and community well-being. Antelope Hills in Palmdale, California, is the latest project in our growing portfolio. In partnership with Hope the Mission, the redevelopment of the former Knights Inn at 130 E. Palmdale Blvd. will deliver 100 permanent supportive housing units with new common areas and amenities.
What Are Common Areas? What Should a Permanent Supportive Housing Community Have?
Common areas are accessible to all residents. Below are the shared spaces worth building into a permanent supportive housing community, with examples from Antelope Hills, Crescent, and Zephyr.
1. Outdoor Gathering Areas
Residents who have spent years on the street or in shelters benefit from open-air spaces where they can sit with neighbors, share a meal, or spend time outside the walls of their unit.
At Antelope Hills, Imperial Contracting is adding a ground-up community building with shaded zones and climate-responsive site features designed for Palmdale’s intense high-desert summers. Advanced heat pump technologies will deliver cooling benefits to outdoor gathering areas, an approach few comparable communities have adopted. The space will provide residents with a comfortable place to gather without leaving the property.
Imperial Contracting took a similar approach at Crescent in Long Beach. The redeveloped Motel 6 now includes a covered outdoor communal space, a BBQ pavilion, a designated smoking area, game tables, and a dog park. The property went from a vacant eyesore to a staffed community where residents can gather, host, and feel at home.
2. Recreational Amenities
Pickleball is the fastest-growing recreational sport in the United States. It’s making its way into more multifamily communities, especially in those serving residents who want low-cost ways to stay active. Compared to tennis courts, pickleball courts are more cost-effective to build, and they welcome players of all ages.
Antelope Hills will include a pickleball court alongside its BBQ pavilion and updated pedestrian pathways. The combination supports physical health and social engagement.
3. Courtyards With Native Shrubs and Trees
Landscaping is a high-impact investment in adaptive reuse and multifamily renovations. Native, drought-tolerant plants cut water bills and comply with regional conservation requirements.
Antelope Hills will feature native landscaping suited to the Antelope Valley’s high-desert climate, with a combination of gravel and decomposed granite ground cover (an inorganic landscaping material), shade structures, and climate-responsive site features. The redesigned pathways will guide residents between individual housing units, the community building, and the recreational amenities. These improvements follow Kadre Architects’ original vision for the property.
4. Utility Rooms
Laundry rooms, computer rooms, and fitness centers allow residents to wash their clothes, print resumes, and get a workout in, all under one roof. For people rebuilding their lives after homelessness, having those services within walking distance saves time and energy that would otherwise go toward errands across town.
5. Modern Entrances and Lobbies
Prospective tenants decide how they feel about a community within seconds of walking through the door. Modern flooring, updated lighting, security features, and comfortable furniture can turn an underused or deteriorating space into a dignified home entrance.
A clean, modern entrance or lobby validates the worth of every person living in the building. This investment encourages residents to take pride in their surroundings, and when residents feel proud of their home, they participate more in social activities and stay longer in housing programs.
Improvements to lobbies and main entrances are also highly beneficial to on-site professionals. Property managers get a front desk to greet new residents and handle paperwork, while on-site staff gain a vantage point to monitor everyone who enters and leaves the building. Visiting case managers and county workers, meanwhile, have a safe, comfortable lobby to wait in before appointments.
For permanent supportive housing communities like Zephyr, Crescent, and the upcoming Antelope Hills, gated entrances with security cameras protect residents as they come and go. Aside from ensuring everyone’s safety, these features tell prospective tenants and visitors that the property is well-managed and cared for.
6. Supportive Services Facilities
Case managers, healthcare coordinators, mental health counselors, and employment specialists need a private space to help residents stabilize and build a life after homelessness. The closer supportive services are to the residents who need them, the more likely they are to follow through with appointments.
At Zephyr and Crescent, Imperial Contracting built designated case management offices into the property. Residents can simply walk from their unit to talk with a case manager about a medical appointment, a job lead, or paperwork for a benefits application. The on-site setup removes barriers to help, such as transportation costs and chronic health conditions or disabilities.
Work With Imperial Contracting on Your Next Permanent Supportive Housing Project
Imperial Contracting is the general contractor behind some of California’s most ambitious permanent supportive housing developments, including Zephyr and Crescent in Long Beach, and the upcoming Antelope Hills in Palmdale. The team works with public agencies, nonprofit developers, and architects who put residents at the center of every decision, and the company brings the discipline that aggressive Project Homekey timelines demand.
If your organization is planning a permanent supportive housing development in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, or Washington, reach out to Imperial Contracting today.
FAQs
What common areas should supportive housing communities have?
Every permanent supportive housing community should have outdoor gathering areas, utility rooms, a multipurpose room or designated community building, and case management offices at a minimum.
Do residents need to pay extra to use the amenities in permanent supportive housing?
No. Common areas and amenities in permanent supportive housing are part of the property and available to all residents.
Can Imperial Contracting do construction when residents already live on the property?Yes. Imperial Contracting has handled several occupied renovations across California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. By phasing the work per area and coordinating closely with property management, the team can add a new community building, expand outdoor amenities, or convert underused interior space into resident facilities.
