News Release

January 6, 2009

Contact: Douglas Robinson, 202-220-2360, drobinson@nw.org

NeighborWorks Organizations Win 2008 National Homebuilding Awards

Washington, D.C. —NeighborWorks organizations around the U.S. were recognized with a range of residential building awards in 2008, including commendation for outstanding environmental construction; creative financing and design.

NeighborWorks organizations are part of the NeighborWorks network, a national group of community development organizations, including more than eighty members that are single- and/or multi-family homebuilders and remodelers.

“NeighborWorks organizations are singularly focused on improving the lives of residents in their communities,” explained Ken Wade, CEO of NeighborWorks America. “By applying the latest building standards and innovating to reduce the cost of construction, long-term owner and tenant energy use, NeighborWorks organizations have proven that great housing can be affordable, green and be inspired by great design.”

Building Affordable Solar – Community Housing Works
In 2008, NeighborWorks organization Community Housing Works based in San Diego, California was selected by the Urban Land Institute for its Award of Excellence for the Solara project. Solara is the first affordable housing development in California designed to be totally independent of the municipal energy grid. Solara consists of 56 multifamily rental units, and generates ninety percent of its electrical needs via solar panels.

Building Energy Efficient and Affordable Homeownership
Also in 2008, the Blue Vista project from Thistle Community Housing, a NeighborWorks group based in Boulder, Colorado was named a Development of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders. Blue Vista is a 198-home “green” development where each home is built with an eye toward energy conservation in everything from the things a homeowner sees such as windows that keep energy use down, to duct work that efficiently transfers heating and cooling throughout the home.

Building with History in Mind
The Gates at Ballston is a 464-unit affordable rental housing development constructed by AHC, Inc., out of Arlington, Virginia, and one of the largest homebuilders in the NeighborWorks network. By taking care to preserve the historical integrity of The Gates while rehabbing many of the units, AHC won the Housing Association of Non-profit Developers “Best Project in 2008” award.

“NeighborWorks network organizations build and rehab more than one thousand units of affordable housing each year,” said Howard Lewis, director of National Real Estate programs at NeighborWorks America. “This is just a sample of the incredible work and recognition that the network earns every year. They are building green, they are building smart, and they are building affordable housing for their communities.”

About NeighborWorks America
NeighborWorks America creates opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. Since 1991, we have assisted nearly 1.2 million low- to moderate-income families with their housing needs. Much of our success is achieved through our support of the NeighborWorks network ― more than 230 community development organizations working in more than 4,400 urban, suburban and rural communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $15 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation’s leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals.