Construction is underway on four new homes in the Washington Neighborhood! This area of Long Beach is one we are targeting through our Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative. By 2020, we plan to make a big impact with a $20 million investment into the building, repairing and renovating of at least 60 homes in this neighborhood.
Partners, like Edison International (parent company of Southern California Edison), are making our neighborhood revitalization work possible by investing in us. Together, we are empowering local families through affordable homeownership. “Owning a home means so much to me,” said Latora Nall, a Washington Neighborhood future homeowners. “Since having my son at the age of 18, I have always dreamed of giving him a better life and I will be forever grateful for this opportunity.”
With all of Habitat LA’s new construction in the Washington Neighborhood comes the opportunity to incorporate state-of-the-art green technology and ensure a better future for our families as well as the environment. Nall and her neighbors will move into homes built in accordance with CALGreen standards set forth by the California Department of Housing and Community Development, as well as Energy Star and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building rating systems. All Habitat LA homes are built towards these standards even without this official certification. Each home’s garage will come equipped with 220-volt electric vehicle chargers and the roof will be “solar ready” so that the new homeowners can work with GRID Alternatives to install low or no-cost solar panels once they close escrow.
“Communities like the Washington Neighborhood are often looked over when it comes to energy efficiency, solar rooftops and electric vehicles,” said Greg Ferree, Southern California Edison’s vice president of Distribution and Habitat LA board member. “We’re excited to partner with organizations that are bringing this technology to these communities, reducing our carbon footprint and helping build a better tomorrow.”
