Feb 27 2008
Leonard and Louise Riggio, known for their support of children's issues and causes for social justice, announced today that their family foundation will commit $20 million to building homes for low-income families through a newly created nonprofit development arm, Project Home Again (PHA). The new homes are for those who lost theirs as a result of Hurricane Katrina. A press conference and groundbreaking ceremony will be held today at 10:30 A.M. to announce the Riggios' first pilot project. The pilot will build 20 wind-resistant homes in the Gentilly neighborhood known as Planning District 6 in Orleans Parish.
Project Home Again will construct single-family homes on 50-foot lots in three sizes: two bedrooms/two baths; three bedrooms/two baths; and four bedrooms/two baths. The homes, which will be offered at no cost to eligible families willing to swap their damaged homes or vacant lots, will be awarded to up to 20 such families during a public lottery, which will be announced at a later date.
"When Louise and I saw the massive destruction, the loss of life and property, we knew that we had to do something to help," said Leonard Riggio, chairman of Barnes & Noble, who founded Project Home Again. "While government must handle the bulk of the rebuilding, individuals can also pitch in to help the good people of New Orleans get back home. We can never replace all that was lost, but we can demonstrate that we recognize the injustices that people have suffered here, and we can show we care."
Mr. Riggio added that Project Home Again is intended to be a zero overhead operation, with all $20 million going directly to building homes. Eligible applicants must have lived in Gentilly two years prior to the storm and own a home (or former home site) in Gentilly that is uninhabitable due to Hurricane Katrina. They must be willing to swap their old uninhabitable home or site for a new home, and have a family consisting of two to eight individuals.
PHA will in turn provide families with a forgivable mortgage (no monthly payments) over a period of five years at which point the family would own the home free and clear. PHA will also assume any capital gains taxes that result from a homeowner swapping their property. If a homeowner should want to sell the home prior to the end of the five-year mortgage term, the homeowner will be responsible for paying off the remaining mortgage to PHA.
FutureProof, the New Orleans-based Sustainable Design Consultancy, is designing the community for Project Home Again. Green Coast Enterprises is overseeing the construction of the subdivision to be located at 4299 St. Bernard Avenue (corner of Mandolin Street) in New Orleans. Their approach has been to create a neighborhood for Project Home Again that draws on culturally significant architectural detailing, climate specific passive design strategies, a landscape that is both amenity and infrastructure, and flexible, comfortable living spaces for the 20 families coming back home.
The hurricane-resistant homes have been designed to integrate into the style of the neighborhood and the city. The homes will withstand winds in excess of 130 miles per hour and will be elevated to at least six feet.
They will incorporate green building materials and techniques including non-toxic termite and mold-resistant materials, passive solar design and natural ventilation strategies to take advantage of prevailing breezes, sunlight, and shading to reduce the need for heating and cooling, solar thermal panels for hot water, reclaimed architectural elements from deconstructed homes in New Orleans, and numerous other green and energy efficiency features.
"By redeveloping a single neighborhood that is only roughly 21 percent re-occupied, we hope this pilot serves as a model for recovery and other redevelopment in New Orleans. We chose Gentilly because it is a great neighborhood where people of different ethnic, economic and cultural backgrounds choose to live together," said Riggio.