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Senior Housing on a Sloped site! How does one accommodate accessibility on a steeply sloping site? That was the design problem presented to us by Columbia Cascades Housing Corporation, a community development corporation in The Dalles. The site has a view of the Columbia River, is located in a neighborhood of homes and small scale multi- family developments, and services are a few blocks away - all features that seemed ideal for the proposed elderly housing - except for the steep slope. Tight budgets would prevent extensive fill and retaining wall work. The solution was to break the building into skinny rectangular parts, parallel the contours, and terrace the grade. Using gently sloping ramps, bridges and an elevator, all 22 units are fully accessible, as the buildings step down the slope. In addition care was given to creating an environment that would be safe, attractive and economical for the elderly while allowing them to "age in place". West Park Orchards is the recipient of a 2001 Award for Design Excellence by the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials.