Omni and Watervliet Housing Authority win Green Preservation Project of the Year

Omni Housing Development LLC of Albany and the Watervliet Housing Authority have won the Green Preservation Project of the Year Award from the New York State Association for Affordable Housing (NYSAFAH). "Van Rennsselaer Village is a model for sustainable, affordable housing," said Alison Badgett, executive director of the statewide Association of over 300 profit and non-profit organizations that advocate for highly energy efficient, affordable housing. Watervliet Housing Authority executive director Charles Patricelli said the design team worked vigorously to, "ensure energy-efficient and green materials be used throughout construction so our residents in need of affordable housing weren't going to be hit as hard by the rise in utility costs. We now provide 81 safe and energy efficient affordable housing units to fellow Watervliet residents for the next 30 years." Duncan Barrett, chief operating officer of Omni Housing Development LLC said, "We have been delighted to partner with the Watervliet Housing Authority and NYS Homes and Community Renewal financing in the transformation of Van Rensselaer Village. Critical to the success of affordable housing that benefits working families and the elderly is a development plan that is sustainable and leads to the lowest feasible operating costs—particularly energy costs. At Van Rennsselaer Village we met all those goals and set a superior threshold for the highest accomplishments in future Omni housing projects." The award is presented to the developer that achieves excellence in energy efficiency, design, construction techniques, financing, affordability, community need and supportive services. Since 2001, Omni Housing Development LLC has specialized in the development, financing, construction, and management of affordable housing, collaborating on dozens of community and private projects from 13 senior housing units in New York's Capital District to 692 apartments in Baltimore, Maryland.