KCDC’s Five Points Development Earns ‘Green Communities’ Certification

Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC) has earned national recognition for the fourth phase of Five Points, which has been certified by Enterprise Green Communities. The certification demonstrates KCDC’s commitment to the economic and environmental benefits of sustainable construction practices for affordable housing.

Enterprise Green Communities considers eight criteria to determine certification: integrative design; location and neighborhood fabric; site improvement; water; operating energy; materials; healthy living environment; and operations, maintenance and resident engagement.

“This certification validates our goal of creating modern and efficient affordable housing,” KCDC Executive Director and CEO Ben Bentley said. “We appreciate the work of our design and construction teams and other project partners that helped us achieve this certification.”

Five Points 4, located at the intersection of Kenner Avenue and McConnell Street in East Knoxville, opened in 2020. The complex includes 31 buildings with a total of 82 units, ranging in size from one to five bedrooms. The community also includes a playground, open green space and a computer room.

Knoxville’s BarberMcMurry Architects and Pittsburgh-based Urban Design Associates designed Five Points 4 with Merit Construction as the construction contractor. KCDC’s owner’s representative was Partners Development.

Five Points 2, designed by Ross/Deckard Architects and Johnson Architecture and built by Merit Construction, earned Enterprise Green Communities certification in 2018. Five Points 3, designed by BarberMcMurry Architects and Urban Design Associates and built by Jenkins & Stiles, earned the certification in 2020.

About Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation

Since 1936, KCDC has been dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for the citizens of Knoxville and Knox County. KCDC’s mission is to improve and transform neighborhoods and communities by providing quality affordable housing, advancing development initiatives and fostering self-sufficiency. For more information, call 865-403-1100 or visit http://www.kcdc.org.