Carlisle Development Group Breaks Ground on Northwest Gardens, Phases II & IV

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - March 11, 2013 - PRLog -- FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Carlisle Development Group and the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Lauderdale (HACFL) have broken ground on Northwest Gardens, Phases II and IV, a $58 million project that will cap off a master plan to redevelop and revitalize the Northwest Neighborhood.

The Northwest Neighborhood is ranked as one of the most distressed areas in the nation. The area has the highest unemployment and poverty rates in the region; the highest juvenile crime rates in the state; and some of the highest HIV/AIDS infections amongst teenagers in the nation.

With this rebuilding effort and the social and educational programs created with community partners, that is changing, according to Matthew Greer, CEO of Carlisle Development Group.

“Northwest Gardens has been a catalytic force in revitalizing the neighborhood, replacing outdated public housing with hundreds of new affordable homes,” Greer said. “When complete, it will have transformed more than 14 city blocks, while creating hundreds of local jobs. More importantly, the development has been successful because of the strong network of local partnerships that are helping plant the seeds for sustainable change.”

Located on 14.42 acres – bounded by NW 8th St on the north, NW 10th Ave on the east, NW 5th St on the south and NW 15th Ave on the west – the two developments will have 13 one-, two- and three-story residential buildings and 266 affordable apartments, ranging from one to five bedrooms and 650 to 1,500 square feet.

Ten percent of the apartments in Phases II and IV will be designated for residents at 25 percent or less than the Area Median Income (AMI) of $62,600. Ninety percent of the dwellings will be designated for residents at 60 percent or less of AMI. Many of the residents will be elderly and children.

Community amenities include clubhouses, fitness centers, library/computer rooms, playgrounds, community rooms, laundry facilities and on-site leasing/management offices. Residential amenities include ceiling fans, dishwashers, microwave ovens, ceramic tiles, dual flush toilets, impact-resistant glass and window treatments. Additionally, all phases of Northwest Gardens are supported by the Fort Lauderdale Transportation Management Association’s shuttle system, which provides daily public transportation for residents.

The first two phases of Northwest Gardens won numerous green building awards, and were designated as the first Gold-Certified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes (Multi-Family) Community in Florida and the first LEED for Neighborhood Development (ND) Certified Community in Florida (the fifth in the nation). The City of Fort Lauderdale honored Northwest Gardens I and III as Project of the Year in 2012.

Designed by South Florida-based Zyscovich Architects, Phases II and IV will employ the same green features, including low emission paints and adhesives; water conserving plumbing fixtures; recycled products; materials from local suppliers; Energy Star rated appliances; and efficient windows.

Working with the City of Fort Lauderdale Northwest-Progresso-Flagler Heights Community Redevelopment Agency, Northwest Gardens architects seamlessly integrated the CRA’s streetscape improvements, creating wider, more walkable sidewalks, distinctive street lighting, on-street parking, and an abundance of native shade trees.

When completed in mid-2014, Northwest Gardens II and IV will be the culmination of an ambitious plan by Carlisle and HACFL to redevelop an entire neighborhood of aging housing stock in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

“Guiding the four phase development was a progressive goal of creating a sustainable neighborhood that promoted urban self-sufficiency,” said Tam English, executive director/CEO of HACFL. “This new community has been designed as a transit village featuring more than 550 LEED-certified homes and a powerful network of social programs that promote food, education, occupation, physical wellness, and emotional wellness.”

Completed in 2011-2012, the first two phases of Northwest Gardens have become a national model for social, environmental and economic sustainability. Community partnerships have enabled opportunities for residents and nearby neighbors, with initiatives such as a robust urban farm; community gardens; a social entrepreneurship program; direct support for grandparents taking care of grandchildren; and on-site vocational training.

Northwest Gardens is only part of a larger redevelopment in the Northwest Neighborhood section of Fort Lauderdale by Carlisle and HACFL. Four additional properties – Dixie Court Apartments (I-III), Dr. Kennedy Homes, Sailboat Bend Apartments and Sunnyreach Acres – are also part of the transformational mix, adding more than $200 million and 600-plus jobs to the local economy and more than 1,100 new affordable housing units to the community.

“Northwest Gardens serves as a beacon for the city,” said Greer. “With these many developments and the programs for the residents, a sense of place and of ownership that did not exist is now coming about. It is setting the tone for members of the community to look at this as a fresh start and a bright future.”

About Housing Authority for the City of Fort Lauderdale
Created by the City of Fort Lauderdale in 1938, the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Lauderdale (HACFL) has actively developed, managed, and maintained decent and affordable housing in the community for 75 years. HACFL currently manages more than 1,000 public and affordable housing units and administers more than 2,800 Section 8 vouchers. In addition, HACFL offers services such as the Family Self-Sufficiency Program, which helps residents achieve independence from all types of governmental assistance and the Step-Up Apprenticeship Program, which provides low-income residents access to education, job skills, and employment opportunities while working to rehabilitate housing in the community. HACFL also provides transit services for its residents. For more information, visit www.hacfl.com.

About Carlisle Development Group
Founded in 1998, Carlisle Development Group is the third largest affordable housing developer in the country. With more than 80 projects representing $1.4 billion in total development costs, Carlisle’s portfolio of assets includes LEED-certified, mixed-use, transit-oriented, urban infill, historic rehabilitation, as well as mixed-income and market-rate housing developments. The firm’s unique social entrepreneurship philosophy and commitment to sustainability are integral parts of its business model. For more information, visit www.carlisledevelopmentgroup.com.