PROVIDENCE – “These winning designs are an excellent example of 21^st-Century housing that is energy efficient, affordable and good for our environment,” said Mayor David N. Cicilline today as he presented the City’s first-ever Sustainable Housing Design Competition awards to two architectural firms at the annual Celebration of Housing Breakfast.  Awards of $5000 each were presented to Christine West, AIA, of Providence-based Kite Architects and Robert Swinburne, AIA, of Brattleboro, Vermont.

“As we work to increase the supply of affordable homes in our neighborhoods we must also ensure that those homes are environmentally sustainable,” said Mayor Cicilline.  “The winners of the Sustainable Housing Design Competition have put forth design proposals that demonstrate how green can also be affordable.”

When Mayor Cicilline kicked off the green design competition in February, he challenged participants to develop designs for environmentally sustainable homes that incorporate energy efficiency, resource conservation, renewable energy and other green building principles.  The judges, who reviewed more a dozen design submissions, focused on the following criteria: design and community context, LEEDS certification and technology, replicable design and realistic budget and materials. 

The competition was blind, which means the judges were unaware of who the contestants were.  The judges consisted of representatives from the building trades, housing development, architecture and environmental advocates.  The winning designs can be viewed on the City’s website at www.providenceri.com.

Mayor Cicilline also took a moment to recognize the City’s housing partners at the Celebration of Housing Breakfast.  West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation received the Mayor’s Top Producer Housing Award and Greater Elmwood Neighborhood Services (GENS) was presented with the Mayor’s Partnership Award for the successful merger of GENS with the Elmwood Foundation.

“Home ownership is central to the strength of our neighborhoods and the economy,” said Mayor Cicilline.  “However, the national foreclosure crisis threatens the American Dream in cities across the nation and here in Providence.  I remain committed to ensuring that we do everything in our power to protect the vitality of neighborhoods during this difficult time.”

The Mayor outlined a number of steps the City is taking to address the foreclosure crisis, including:

• Abandoned Property Penalty – acts as a disincentive for absentee investment buyers to hold vacant property for long periods of time
• No-interest Loans – City is making one million dollars of Housing Trust Funds available in no-interest loans to help defray the costs of repairing foreclosed homes
• Exploring litigation that would target lending institutions that hold onto foreclosed property for extended periods of time devaluing surrounding property
• Seeking $10 million in federal housing dollars for the development and preservation of housing, including foreclosure prevention and mitigation

The 3^rd annual Celebration of Housing Breakfast is sponsored by Bank of America, Citizens Bank, Sovereign Bank and Bank R.I. 

Learn more about the winning designs on the Planning and Development Website