Global Green News
Holy Cross Neighborhood Gets 'Green' Face-Lift
WDSU.COM. AUGUST 25, 2010.
New Homes Being Built With Latest Technology
NEW ORLEANS -- The Holy Cross neighborhood is getting a face-lift, one green home at a time.
The Global Green project has constructed five green homes, and there's more housing in the works.
There is still a green apartment building with 18 units set for the area, as well as a community center. The new homes stand out in the older neighborhood, but neighbors said it's a look they are getting used to. "I think it might be a little unusual from the old traditional, houses but it's very beautiful," said Holy Cross resident Mamie Smith.
Smith has lived in the community for more than 30 years. She returned to her home after Hurricane Katrina, and she said the green homes are a welcome addition to the neighborhood.
"I've said to myself, 'If I did not have the home that I have, I would love to have one of these,'" she said.
Global Green USA is hoping to get a foothold in energy efficient building with the Holy Cross project. Five homes have been completed with all the latest in green design, from double windows to recycled wood for the floors, florescent lights, a panel to track energy and water usage and even a green roof.
"This is sort of modern, but it's still sort of New Orleans," said Matt Petersen, of Global Green. "It has a front porch. It's a shotgun. It's straight through like a lot of the houses are."
They are designed to bridge the gap between affordability and efficiency. Smith said she welcomes the new technology to the neighborhood.
"It might change the neighborhood, but it will grow on us," she said.
Global Green plans to offer the homes at about $175,000, but they also plan to offer a soft second mortgage option that could bring the cost down to about $150,000 or lower for a home with all of the latest in green design.
One of the homes in the Holy Cross project was dedicated to Pam Dashiell, a past president of the Holy Cross Neighborhood Association who died last year.
