May 13, 2011

CITY RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS AWARD FROM HUD, ‘HOME’ PROGAM FOR ST. POLYCARP’S, VNA DEVELOPMENTS

Somerville Receives One of Fourteen “Door Knocker Awards” Nationwide; St. Polycarp’s Village, Phase I, Received $950,000 HOME Funds to Assist with Project; Honorable Mention Awarded to VNA in West Somerville

SOMERVILLE – On behalf of the City of Somerville, last week the Director of the Somerville Housing Division, Dana LeWinter, accepted one of fourteen national “Door Knocker Awards,” issued by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, through their HOME Program.  The Awards, presented in Bethesda, Maryland, honor HOME-assisted housing projects, which included Phase I of the St. Polycarp’s Village development on Mystic Avenue. The project received $950,000 in HOME funding.  She was joined in by Jeremy Wilkening and Courtney Koslow of the Somerville Community Corporation (SCC), the project developer.  Phase I of that project included the construction of 11 HOME units, and 24 total units of affordable housing.  Selected for its “Production of Sustainable Housing,” the project was primarily lauded for its use of green and energy-efficiency measures, including a green roof and solar panels.  The groundbreaking for Phase II of the project was held last week and Phase III is currently in the planning process.

“As a City, we are committed to providing accessible, affordable housing options for our residents, and I’m honored that that commitment has been recognized on this prestigious level,” said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone.  “I’m proud of the partnerships we share with the SCC, VNA and other key stakeholders and organizations, all dedicated to the quality of life of our community members and their families.”

“The HOME Door Knocker Award recognizes Somerville as one of the leaders of innovation in affordable housing production,” said LeWinter.  “The St. Polycarp’s Village and Visiting Nurses Senior Living Community [at Capen Court] developments are just two examples of the work the Housing Division is undertaking to contribute to Somerville’s vision of an affordable, sustainable and livable community, and we are proud to have partnered with the SCC to build housing that will serve as a model for other communities.”

The City of Somerville also received an Honorable Mention for the Visiting Nurse’s Senior Living Community on Capen Court, for producing sustainable housing.  This 99-unit project provides sustainable housing for elderly and residents with disabilities, on a former brownfields site.

"We are so pleased and proud to have been able to support this truly unique affordable housing project by the Somerville Community Corporation, and to have received national recognition only reinforces our resolve to continue to seek excellence in design and sustainability for all of our building projects," said Phil Ercolini, the City’s former Housing Director and

“SCC appreciates the relationship and the great support we get from the Mayor and his administration. That support enables us to provide affordable, healthy and environmentally conscious homes to households who would otherwise struggle to find housing they can afford in Somerville. We are honored to partner with the City in sharing this award from HUD,” said Daniel LeBlanc, CEO of SCC.

The HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) is the largest Federal block grant designed exclusively to create affordable housing for low- and very low-income households. Each year HUD allocates nearly $2 billion among the States and hundreds of localities nationwide. In the past 20 years, more than $24.8 billion of HOME funds has been committed to affordable housing projects.