Altair: The Next Generation of Housing

With over 40 years of experience in creating residential housing, WHA brings a visionary approach to Altair, blending tradition with innovation. Starting with a tried-and-true bedrock, Altair will be a model for master planned developments to come with cutting-edge land planning, a diverse range of lifestyle-oriented floor plans, and unique theming elements.

The original specific plan (done by others and approved in 2018) envisioned Altair as a high-density urban village environment with a range of 3-4 story micro units, apartments, row towns and small lot detached residential. Given its prime location near Old Town Temecula, set against the base of the Santa Ana Mountains, and linked to City Hall through Main Street, we worked closely with the city and Brookfield Residential to expand the vision. By diversifying the housing options into multiple product types, we were able to appeal to a broader market of homebuyers yearning for new housing in the heart of Temecula. Altair is now set to offer something for everyone – from first-time homebuyers to growing families to age-qualified couples ready to downsize, situated in a village environment, interconnected with open spaces and pedestrian trails.

Following the goal of achieving housing for a variety of buyers, we combined brand new, unique concepts with traditional product segmentation. In all cases, maximizing resident options and constructability concerns, to increase opportunities for attainable housing. Strategic plotting was important for Altair’s design, blending multiple product types throughout the four villages. By staggering and mirroring plans to offer diverse building frontages, and eliminating tandem garages, we prioritized the desires of future residents. The design team coined the phrase “plus program” for the floor plans, allowing one product type to have a variety of massing options, such as an optional roof deck, bonus room, or bedroom down. This approach allowed us to propose a single elevation style per product with enough variation to feel collective and cohesive without being repetitive, all while reducing construction costs.

Partnering with the city and Brookfield Residential, our design team crafted distinctive thematic elements for the community. We challenged the conventional use of multiple styles for the same product types and, after researching historic neighborhoods with a single style, concluded that a more cohesive design would be preferable. By integrating thoughtful site planning, floor plans, and stylistic choices, we ensured variety in design without adding unnecessary complexity to construction and coordination. Altair will certainly be a desirable, live-able community for the future.

Altair had a huge week when it, along with 4 other WHA projects, received city approvals within a 3-day span. This of course was made possible through the efforts of the Planning Department, Multi Family Design team, CD team, Colors Studio, and 3D Rendering Studio. We are looking forward to seeing Altair come to life and bringing new energy to Old Town Temecula!