Washington Square

Between the years 1911 and 1916, world-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed a collection of urban homes to provide affordable housing for workers in America’s cities and transform the monotonous cityscape into a place where the average American could live in beauty.

Now these unique designs, updated for contemporary living as modified by Frank Lloyd Wright’s successor firm, Taliesin Architects, come to life in a neighborhood of eight single-family homes in the Second and Third Wards. The homes feature open interiors, efficient use of space, and an abundance of windows to maximize natural light.

Developers:

• The CRDA and Procida Realty & Construction, the developers, worked closely with the Vision 2000 Community Development Corporation to ensure a thriving resident-centered community for every family who lives there.

Planning and Architecture:

• The CRDA retained the services of Taliesin Architects, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation (MIMS Architecture).
  
• Taliesin Architects was assisted by Pennoni Associates for civil engineering and landscape architecture, and Akari Lighting Design for exterior and interior lighting.

The Site:

• Situated in the heart of Atlantic City's Atlantic Heights District, the Washington Square project is located along Tennessee Avenue between Baltic and Adriatic Avenues.
  
• Gross Building Area (three models): Aurora - 1,513 sq. ft., Stanford - 1,613 sq. ft., Shorewood - 1,262 sq. ft.
  
• Optional one-car garage and off-street parking for one additional car is provided for each home.

Economic and Community Information:

• The project's $2 million cost was provided by the CRDA through the use of state-mandated housing investment funds from Trump Taj Mahal.
  
• The Vision 2000 Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization formed in 1996 by Atlantic City's Second Baptist Church, was responsible for coordinating the formation of a Homeowners' Association to oversee post construction operations, snow removal, and related Association activities.

Construction and Engineering:

Completed in 2003, Washington Square homes are detached single-family structures of wood frame design with stucco finish:

• Three models were offered in the project: Aurora and Stanford are two-story homes featuring three bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths. Shorewood is a single-story home with two bedrooms and one-and-a-half baths.
• Private deck or porch in the front and rear of the dwellings
• Optional one-car garage and off-street parking for another vehicle.
• Attractive landscaping and private open space.