Tuesday, October 2, 2007

U.S. Housing Secretary to commemorate National Housing Model in Dallas

By Pegasus News wire

(DALLAS, Texas) – Alphonso Jackson, Secretary to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, will join Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity for a celebration commemorating the fifth anniversary of Greenleaf Village, a national model for corporate, government and nonprofit partnerships in building communities, on Thursday, October 4th at 10:00 a.m. at Bickers Street and Vine Maple Place in West Dallas.

Jackson at right.

Joining Secretary Jackson and Dallas Habitat in celebrating this important milestone: The Honorable David Neumann, Councilmember; Ann Lott, President and Chief Executive Officer for the Dallas Housing Authority; and Don Barrineau, Division President, KB Home; as well as Greenleaf Village community leaders and residents.

Recognized by the Urban Land Institute as a best practice for public-private housing partnerships in the country, Greenleaf Village is a prime example of tackling the country’s current housing crisis by creating a mixed-income neighborhood.

Phil Wise, a private real estate investor who brought the parties together that helped make Greenleaf Village a reality, is a highly regarded leader in finding solutions to the housing crisis. Remarked Mr. Wise, “Not considering the recent instability in the national housing market, Dallas doesn’t have nearly enough quality, affordable single-family homes the vast majority of moderate to low income families can afford to buy. With a homeownership rate among citizens between 40%-50%, Dallas is woefully below the national average. Greenleaf Village provides a local solution model for others to emulate.”

In 2002, Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity partnered with the City of Dallas, KB Home, and the Dallas Housing Authority to build a model community of mixed-income family homes on the land formerly occupied by the Lakewest Public Housing Development.

Agreeing to build 100 homes for low-income families, Dallas Habitat launched the initial construction in Greenleaf Village with a “blitz-build”, building 25 homes with the help of over 10,000 volunteers. KB Home, a for-profit builder, constructed the remaining 205 homes in the neighborhood. Marketed to individuals employed in the immediate area, leaders and members of area churches and to the public, homes quickly sold and families filled the area with new life. Greenleaf Village residents include chefs, hotel managers, medical students, doctors, ministers and others; families with diverse income levels and occupations living next door to one another.

Since its completion, the community now benefits from a state of the art YMCA, academically recognized public and private schools, churches and parks. As well, property values have increased significantly; retail establishments are opening in surrounding areas; and violent crime has gone down.

"Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity is proud to be involved in the creation of Greenleaf Village and the continuing revitalization of the West Dallas community,” said Norm Wilbur, Executive Director, Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity. “In partnering with the City of Dallas, our goal is to transform neighborhoods by providing quality, affordable housing and empowering low income families to become successful homeowners."

Source: Dallas Area Habitat

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