Central Detroit Christian Community Development Corp. has purchased five vacant homes in historic Boston Edison with plans to completely rehabilitate them in an energy efficient manner.
The houses have been secured. Construction will begin later this summer and continue for a few months into fall. Besides the rehab work that a nonprofit might typically be able to afford (think roof, porch, appliances, paint, flooring), these will include energy efficient furnaces, updated electrical panels and extra insulation.
The idea, says CDC executive director Lisa Johanon, is to stabilize the middle class in the area. "Our goal is to be as energy efficient, as green, as possible so that moderate income families can move in -- and that heat bills don't drive them out."
This project was made possible with a loan from ShoreBank Enterprise Detroit, a nonprofit affiliate of
ShoreBank Corporation. Read more about the impetus for ShoreBank's energy efficient loan program in this Metromode story,
It's Not Easy Being Green.
Source: Lisa Johanon, Central Christian CDC
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
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