We are truly honored to be the recipients of the National Trust/ HUD Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation with Redmellon for our efforts restoring 46 blighted homes in New Orleans’ Treme and 7th Ward neighborhoods. This project provides low-income housing for historically under-served areas of the city, creating innovative solutions for sensible rehabilitation and social change.
We were in great company, our Iberville Offsite Rehabilitation project in New Orleans was one of 17 award winners recognized during the Richard H. Driehaus National Preservation Awards ceremony held at the wonderfully restored Lucas Theater in Savannah as part of the 2014 Past Forward National Preservation Conference.
This year’s awards are a reflection of historic preservation’s essential role in building and restoring communities. We were excited to share the stage with other architects, designers, planners, developers and activists that create projects and come up with new models to support communities that have been under-served for so long, like Bernice Radle and her hands-on Buffalove approach to preservation in Buffalo, NY, the Rehabilitation of the East Feliciana Parish Courthouse in Clinton, LA or the wonderfully executed Owe’neh Bupingeh project that preserves the tribe’s built environment in Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico. Georgia was well represented by Josh Rogers receiving the American Express Aspire Award for his preservation work in Macon, GA. Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, said it best ‘Josh Rogers’ remarkable work demonstrates how smaller cities can establish preservation programs and initiatives that are just as powerful and effective as those of larger cities, his accomplishments have demonstrated how preservation helps to enhance community revitalization and community well-being.’
Eric was part of a panel on Friday discussing Iberville Offsite Rehabilitation homes and our approach to make these homes compatible, affordable, accessible and sustainable.