Project Profile: Sunflower Fields

Located in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Sunflower Fields is the latest multifamily housing project completed by EGStoltzfus Commercial Construction.

Done in partnership with Monarch Development Group LLC and Affordable Housing Associates of Dauphin County, Sunflower Fields is one of several affordable housing developments in Pennsylvania that were awarded special funding and tax credits through the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA). Annually, the credits assist in preserving and creating more than 1,000 additional affordable rental housing units for PA residents.

Innovation in Design
At the heart of Sunflower Fields are 35 new single-family detached homes that are rental properties for lower-income wage earners. There are three 1-bedroom units, three 2-bedroom units and 25 3-bedroom units. Four homes are ADA-compliant and fully handicapped accessible. Sunflower Fields homes also have a 1-car garage, front porch and energy-efficient construction that exceeds EnergyStar requirements by 10%.

A unique feature of Sunflower Fields is its development-supported agriculture component, which earned the neighborhood an Innovation in Design award from PHFA. The ag component is a 1-acre community garden and harvest exchange that promotes sustained living with long-term affordability. Professionally designed and modeled after Hershey Community Garden, it features handicapped-accessible beds, fencing and storage. Neighborhood residents and other community members enjoy the green space.

Susquehanna Township’s conservation design overlay zoning made denser development possible at Sunflower Fields – allowing for the preservation of the open garden space and other natural features.

The home exteriors at Sunflower Fields are designed to look like central PA farmhouses and reflect the community gardening/farming concept. There’s even a weather vane atop the barn-red community building, which has office space and plenty of indoor and outdoor gathering spots for neighbors.

Affordable Housing Expertise
EGStoltzfus’ experience with multifamily affordable housing projects like Sunflower Fields dates back over 25 years. Our budget planning expertise for projects that involve tax credits has been a valuable asset for the developers and industry partners we work with. Sunflower Fields marks the third affordable housing project completed with Monarch Group.

For photos of Sunflower Fields, browse our project photo gallery.

For more information about Sunflower Fields, visit the Monarch Development Group website.

Some Photo Gallery images by Hugh Loomis, courtesy of Kramer+Marks Architects.