A community development organization in New Orleans recently held a ceremony to celebrate the construction of a brand new project aimed towards offering affordable new homes to public workers.
According to The New Orleans Advocate, Peoples Community has commenced construction on the much-anticipated Westwood Crossing, a $45 million mixed-income gated community featuring 87 single-family homes on 34 acres, with four acres of commercial space.
The new private community will be marketed primarily to government employees such as firefighters, police officers, and teachers. The sale price for homes begins at $168,000 with grant assistance.
According to their website, Peoples Community is an official subdivision of the Community Housing Development Organization, and was designed to alleviate the conditions of poverty for New Orleans residents. The group has been particularly active since Hurricane Katrina decimated the area in 2005.
They believe in offering affordable housing to those who deserve it the most, explained Leatrice Hollis, executive director of Peoples Community.
“We are thrilled to be able to provide housing opportunities for our public servants,” Hollis said in a press release. “Everyone should have the opportunity to have housing that is secure and affordable.”
Gated communities like Westwood Crossing are becoming increasingly popular for prospective homeowners, as they give families the option to build their dream home and to enjoy communal amenities like swimming pools and outdoor pavilions.
As for the commercial property in Westwood, Hollis said it will include six 900-square-foot retail buildings, one of which will serve as a business incubator offering management training and office space.
Peoples Community says that it has made home ownership a reality for more than 185 families over the past decade. Since 2005, the organization has awarded nearly $2 million in recovery and disaster rebuild activities.
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