By redeveloping underutilized commercial and industrial uses into multifamily development, Orange Housing and C&C have advanced the city's Housing Element, according to city officials. Redevelopment of industrial and other non-residential sites is a key provision in the city's Housing Element, which states that urbanized areas being created by growing employment opportunities have “produced projects that redevelop commercial and industrial uses to integrate both residential and commercial uses at higher densities than seen previously.”

Council Member Mike Alvarez said in the statement, “Since our city is nearly built out, we must be very creative in finding viable sites to provide a diversity of housing for our residents.” He added that Lemon Grove and Citrus Grove are great examples of the type of creative thinking needed to provide the type of housing needed in Orange.

Lemon Grove is designed to achieve, at a minimum, a LEED-Silver certification and exceeds California Title 24 CalGreen energy-efficiency standards. It utilizes such sustainable building methods as “low-E” windows, grass bio swales, filtera units, water-saving plumbing fixtures and formaldehyde-free insulation. For optimal water conservation, the project incorporates state-of-the-art irrigation systems and is landscaped with low-maintenance, drought-resistant plants throughout including fruit trees and shrubs to provide aesthetic value and shade and to aid in the retention of water prior to runoff.