Green Build House at 631 N 24th Street

Green Build House at 631 N 24th Street.

Just one block from the Hawley Bed & Breakfast http://www.hawleybb.com/

Press Release OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

555 South 10th Street, Lincoln, NE 68508, 441-7511, fax 441-7120 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 20, 2008

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Diane Gonzolas, Citizen Information Center, 441-7831

Michael Snodgrass, NeighborWorks® Lincoln,477-7181

Peter Hind, UNL College of Architecture,617-6984

GROUND BROKEN FOR “GREEN BUILD” HOUSE

City, HUD, UNL and NeighborWorks® partner on project Mayor Chris Beutler joined (U.S. Senator Ben Nelson and) other officialstoday in breaking ground for a “green build” house in the historic Clintonneighborhood. The design of the home at 631 N. 24th Street includespassive solar techniques, materials, and building methods essential forsustainable design.

Beutler said the innovative homeownership option ispart of the Stronger, Safer Neighborhoods Initiative he launched in March. Beutler (and Nelson) were joined by UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman; MacieHouston, Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Housing and UrbanDevelopment (HUD); andKevin Morris of the NeighborWorks® America district office in Kansas Cityas well as representatives of NeighborWorks® Lincoln and the UNL College ofArchitecture.

The project also is supported by State Farm Insurance andthe Woods Charitable Fund. “A key goal of our neighborhood initiative is to increase homeownership inkey areas of our City,” said Beutler. “Homeownership is essential tobuilding community pride, and this home will be a beautiful addition tothis historic neighborhood This project makes our stronger and saferefforts ‘greener’ as well.” The Clinton neighborhood is the target of ongoing revitalization efforts bythe City of Lincoln.This house is part of the design project for the UNL Archspace project. Agroup of 17 students have designed all parts of the home, which will besold to a participant of the NeighborWorks® Lincoln First Time Homebuyerprogram. “Hallmarks of UNL’s architecture program are the focus on hands-onexperience and a growing emphasis on sustainable building practices,” saidPerlman. “This project fulfills both those goals. We are proud that UNLstudents have been a part of this project in the neighborhood adjacent tocampus. This is UNL’s second collaboration with NeighborWorks® Lincoln,and it is rewarding for our students to participate and learn in ways thatbenefit them and also benefit a future home owner.” Assistant Professor Peter Hind said the largest sustainable feature of thehouse is the incorporation of hay bales into the walls to reduce energyconsumption. “This house serves as a way for future architects to not onlyunderstand issues of sustainable design, but it also exposes them to theidea that architecture exists to serve greater responsibilities, he said.“This house introduced the importance of economy of means, neighborhoodconnectivity and the constraints of a challenging site.” HUD is sponsoring the project as part of National Homeownership Month.This year’s theme, “Back to Basics,” focuses on HUD’s efforts to educatefamilies about government assistance for struggling homeowners and how toguard against predatory lending. HUD is the nation’s housing agency committed to increasing homeownership,particularly among minorities; creating affordable housing opportunitiesfor low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people withdisabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promoteseconomic and community development and enforces the nation's fair housinglaws. More information about HUD and its programs is available at http://www.hud.gov/ and espanol.hud.gov. The NeighborWorks® Lincoln mission is to keep Lincoln a safe and prosperouscommunity by revitalizing neighborhoods and promoting homeownership. ItsWeb site is http://www.nwlincoln.org/.