Carol's Message
What does affordable housing look like?
What do you see in your mind's eye when someone says affordable housing? Do you see unimaginative boxes clumped together and falling apart: the stereotypical housing "project." I think many people do… and Cook Inlet Housing Authority wants to change that.
We believe that good design is essential in affordable housing. We believe that attractive designs are key to helping neighborhoods throughout our community accept the addition of affordable housing in their own "backyard." We believe that a high quality affordable home has the power to instill a sense of pride in the family that lives there and their pride results in long-term care for their home and their neighborhood.
We believe that as residents of this community we have the right to expect attractive, well designed, well built homes and neighborhoods - whether we can afford $700 or $7,000 a month for housing. We also believe that a limited budget is actually a good tool for forcing creativity.
These beliefs are largely what led Cook Inlet Housing Authority to host the community's first affordable "Ideal Home" design competition.
The theme of our event was "synergy + building + innovation." Cook Inlet Housing Authority adopted this concept as the foundation for the Housing Forum and Design Competition because we believe that there is strength in numbers and that by working together and being creative we can effect change. We can create better housing, better neighborhoods and a better community.
Four teams presented four great designs at our housing forum on March 3. I am humbled by the dedication, time, energy and creativity each of the teams committed to this project. While it is the nature of competition that there is a winner, there truly were no losers
The dynamics of balancing good design with affordable construction and energy efficiency created good dialogue within the teams and the audience. Cook Inlet Housing learned something from each of the designs, and all the teams presented ideas that will inspire modifications or enhancements to Cook Inlet Housing Authority's future home designs. While there can be only one 2006 Ideal Home, I can honestly say that I would be excited and proud to be the owner of any one of the four homes presented.
I offer sincere congratulations to the winning team: mayer sattler-smith/Friends of H4H. Congratulations also to Spinell Homes for their success in the affordability category. To all the teams I send out a heart-felt thank you. I am grateful for your efforts toward creating better housing, better neighborhoods and a better community.
Stay tuned as we move into construction of the Ideal Home this summer in Mountain View. I look forward to sharing our new-found knowledge and creative designs with the rest of the community!
Sincerely,
Carol Gore