Student Designed “Green” Home

About the Program

Category: Community and Economic Development (Best in Category)

Year: 2012

In an effort to assist neighborhoods affected by the foreclosure crisis, the federal government launched the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) in 2008. Anoka County, MN has used NSP funds to purchase and rehabilitate foreclosed vacant properties that were in good shape or demolish those properties that were substandard. Completed homes provide an opportunity to breathe new life into neighborhoods that have been experiencing high rates of foreclosure. When planning for demolition of a substandard home and the subsequent redevelopment of a lot in the City of Andover, Anoka County staff created a partnership with a local community technical college in drafting the architecture plans for the new house to be built on the lot where the dilapidated house was razed. The partnership provided Anoka County with a cost effective method of creating development plans, while at the same time providing a unique learning opportunity and real-world experience for the architecture students. The new construction allowed a “green” overlay to be completed on the home incorporating recycled materials as well as energy efficient products.