NINE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS WIN HUD AWARD FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE

• Summaries of the winning projects

WASHINGTON - Nine U.S. housing projects, built by public and private partnerships, were today showcased as outstanding examples of innovative design in affordable housing when they received the HUD Secretary's Award for Excellence at the National Association of Home Builder's annual meeting in Atlanta.

The award, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, NAHB and Professional Builder magazine, is part of the annual Best in American Living Award - or BALA - competition.

Three California projects won awards: El Paseo (Oxnard), La Esperanza Subdivision (Dixon) and Las Mariposas (Coachella). Other winning projects were: Anthony Square (Rochester, NY); Building Blocks (Des Moines, IA); Campostella Square (Chesapeake, VA); Community Hills (Newark, NJ); Los Puentes Housing Development (Albuquerque, NM); and Viola Street Revitalization Project (Greenville, SC).

"These nine projects are superb examples of what builders, architects and local communities can accomplish when they collaborate to provide affordable housing," HUD Secretary Mel Martinez said. "If home is truly where the heart is, these developments will do more than just provide housing for low income families - they'll provide homes."

In addition to being rated on design excellence by a panel of experts, projects were evaluated on:

• degree to which they promote homeownership;
• relationship of sales price to area median home price;
• collaboration among local government, private industry (builders, real estate professionals, and lenders), and nonprofit and community groups; and
• innovation in technology, regulatory barrier removal, contribution to neighborhood revitalization or community development.

The 57th annual NAHB conference and exposition, which runs from Feb. 9-12, is expected to draw more than 70,000 housing industry professionals.

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