April 13, 2010

To the Editor:

I was pleased to read your March 31^st piece highlighting affordable housing developers as being on the cutting edge of green.  Few media outlets have stepped back and looked at the sea change occurring in public housing across the U.S., including the industry’s substantial advances in sustainable development.

The Future of Public Housing Policy Framework, developed at the CLPHA-convened 2008 Summit on the Future of Public Housing, includes a commitment to greening the entire public housing portfolio in ten years.  The $4 billion in Recovery Act public housing capital funds has given the industry a jumpstart in developing plans previously languishing on drawing boards, and its innovative work is generating neighborhood revitalization in urban centers across the country. Here are just a few examples:

Denver is starting work on the first phase of a 17.5 acre mixed-use, mixed-income, transit-oriented community intended to serve as a national model. The community is designed to deliver exceptional environmental efficiency and energy performance, including better access to fresh fruits and vegetables, and bike and pedestrian-friendly routes.

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Source: Council of Large Public Housing Authorities