Category: Housing Development
Project: The Hillside ‘Green’ Revitalization Project
Project Location: 1307 Elmwood, 1246 Jefferson, 1300 Jefferson 1333 Jefferson
(Phase I), Fort Worth Texas
Status: Phase 1 of 4 homes have been built and sold.
Cost: $2,418,500
Description: Tarrant County Housing Partnership (TCHP), is a non-profit housing agency that
invests in communities throughout Tarrant County, Texas to provide affordable, quality housing
options for low to moderate income families. The project is a collaborative initiative to help preserve
and revitalize the Hillside neighborhood, one of Fort Worth’s oldest urban, inner-city neighborhoods.
The project consists of 15 new bungalow-style craftsman homes that are energy efficient and
affordably priced in the mid-$70’s and are available to income eligible homebuyers who qualify for
up to $14,999 in down payment and closing cost assistant through the City of Fort Worth’s
Homebuyer Assistance Program. Utilizing TCHP’s pioneering green building initiative, construction
featured installation of the Structural insulated panels (SIPs) – a high performance building system
consisting of an insulating foam core sandwiched between two oriented strand boards (OSB). The
result is a building system that is extremely energy efficient, and cost effective. The homes also
feature high-performing HVAC systems, Energy Star rated appliances and windows,
environmentally-friendly paint, cabinetry and flooring, drought-tolerant landscaping, and waterconserving plumbing. Each home is equipped with a TED Energy Use Monitor system that will
provide data on household energy usage. Homes built under TCHP’s green building initiative are
more cost effective to the homeowners and provide greatly reduced utility bills, putting more money
in their pockets, which increase their sustainability. Additional benefits of the green building
practices include increased air quality and healthier indoor atmosphere, which improves medical
conditions such as asthma. Tarrant County Housing Partnership’s goal is to become a leader in
building high performing, energy efficient affordable homes for lower income families while also
strengthening the environment.
Community Needs Addressed: The Hillside project helps to preserve and revitalize Fort Worth’s
existing neighborhoods by bringing blighted, vacant infill lots in distressed communities back into
use to create affordable housing opportunities for low income families. Fort Worth ranks consistently
below the average national homeownership rate, which is even considerably lower among
minorities and low income families. In Fort Worth, median home prices have increased 38% in the
last 6 years, whereas, 46.9% of all households earn less than the median income. Additionally, the
imbalance of rising housing costs and stagnant income levels have created a devastating housing
cost burden, whereas an alarming percentage of families are paying more than 30% of their income
on housing. This condition compromises their ability to afford other basic needs such as healthcare,
transportation and education, which become burdensome and often go unutilized, placing a further
drain the city’s assistance systems and economic well-being.
The City’s Consolidated Plan details a significant need for quality affordable housing available to
low income families located in Southeast neighborhoods, where 79% of the housing stock was built
prior to 1959. Older housing with greater repair needs tends to be concentrated in neighborhoods
that have the lowest income, which is consistent with Hillside. According to the Census, 38% of the
NDC Academy 2015
Housing Development
The Hillside 'Green' Revitalization Project
population is very low income and the median household income is $48,870. The average value of
homes is $50,475, as opposed to the average of $148,430 for the city. The need for affordable
housing for lower income families is also reflected in the number of applicants on the waiting list for
the Housing Choice Voucher Program, which has reached 7,000. The need for quality, affordable
housing is not limited to low-income households, but includes other middle-income earners who are
increasingly finding it difficult to live in the communities where they work.
Benefits and Outcome: The impact of this project has resulted in the decrease of vacant, blighted
infill lots; an increase homeownership opportunities for low income households, as well as an
increase in the number of qualified homebuyers; education of low income residents on financial
literacy and pre-purchase counseling; increased homeowner sustainability through decrease in
utility costs and health ailments requiring medical attention; the stabilization of property values in
hard-hit neighborhoods with foreclosures; an increase in the
supply of affordable housing; and
ultimately creating a positive impact on the local economic recovery and revitalization efforts as it
increases property values and prevents further neighborhood decline. Green building practices
saved 30% on framing labor, decreased costs for insulation, 30% savings of electrical labor; savings
of 30% on waste costs due to reduction in jobsite waste utilizing pre-cut panels, energy efficient
envelope required smaller HVAC systems, which generated a 40% savings and better indoor air
quality for homeowners. Additionally, the new homes on once empty lots created jobs — both
during construction and through new consumer spending after the homes were occupied. The
houses that TCHP built have significantly improve the appearance and value of the neighborhood.
TCHP also maximized benefit for the future residents by building green to lower long terms costs of
homeownership.
Project Collaborators: Tarrant County Housing Partnership has developed a strategic
collaborative alliance with the City of Fort Worth, Councilmembers Kelly Allen Gray and Frank
Moss, the Fort Worth Housing Authority, Southeast Fort Worth, Inc., Hillside Neighborhood
Association, Morningside Children’s Partnership and the Fort Worth Community Partnership, Inc.
Local stakeholders have focused their efforts to concentrate on the revitalization of Fort Worth’s
oldest neighborhoods located in Southeast Fort Worth, which has yielded significant economic
development throughout the community in new community facilities, urban villages and retail
centers. The proposed area has active neighborhood associations that have worked diligently to
apply for and receive the Model Block and Empowerment Zone designations by the City of Fort
Worth. Due to our efforts, the neighborhoods have organized Code Blue and Code Rangers
programs, advocated for Capital Improvement Program funding, held neighborhood cleanup and
tree planting events and worked with City Public Works to install speed bumps, street lights and
stop signs. Revitalization of these neighborhoods can only occur through the use of federal funding
and foundation partnerships to provide the gap funding need to create affordable housing and
increase owner occupied homes. Funding was provided through the City of Fort Worth, US Dept. of
Housing & Urban Development HOME Investment Partnership Program, the Enterprise Community
Foundation, Wells Fargo Housing Foundation and Citi Foundation. These partners are dedicated to
working together to improve the Southeast community and create attractive, desirable and safe
neighborhoods in which to live, work and raise a family.
NDC Academy 2015
Housing Development
The Hillside 'Green' Revitalization Project
What Makes Your Project Unique? : TCHP believes “green” and “affordable” are one and the
same. It is our new focus to make environmentally responsible development the mainstream in
affordable housing and to create high quality homes for low-income families while strengthening the
environment. Green building offers a wide array of benefits for not only the homeowners, but also
neighborhoods and cities, which leads to healthier homes and communities, lower energy & water
costs and a protected environment.
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Healthier Homes and Communities. Housing conditions are important factors influencing
health. Green building practices can create healthier home environments through better
indoor air quality and healthier building materials.
Lower Energy and Water Cost. Buildings are better performing, cutting utility costs for
homeowners.
A Stronger Environment. Buildings account for 38% of carbon dioxide emissions, 30% of raw
materials and landfill waste and 12% of potable water consumption. Environmentally
responsible development, along with energy- and water-efficient buildings can make a
positive contribution to environmental protection.
The Hillside project utilizes revolutionary green building techniques, including the use of Structural
Insulated Panels in construction. Since the panels are pre-fabricated, it reduces framing labor and
saves up to 30% on waste costs. They are pre-insulated which reduces the need for additional
insulation, and electrical is installed 20-30% faster which, decreases labor cost. Environmentally,
the residual jobsite waste is drastically reduced. The homes also offer better indoor air quality,
reducing contaminants, including carbon dioxide emissions, which can cause allergies, asthma, and
other health issues. Buildings that use these resources more efficiently, while minimizing pollution
that can harm renewable natural resources, is crucial to a sustainable future. Using environmental
technology – from drought-tolerant landscaping to smaller HVAC systems, reduces the cost of
maintenance, from higher utility bills to the need for future costly renovations if cheaper, less
efficient products had been used.
Organization’s Name: Tarrant County Housing Partnership
Website: http://tchp.net
Main Contact: Donna VanNess
Email: [email protected]
Phone Number: 817-924-5091
NDC Academy 2015
Housing Development
The Hillside 'Green' Revitalization Project
NDC Academy 2015
Housing Development
The Hillside 'Green' Revitalization Project
$ 90,000.00
$ 101,000.00
$ 127,500.00
$ 67,500.00
Landscape / Fence
Development/Utility /Impact fees
Holding Costs/Taxes/Maintenance
Insurance/Bonding/Interest
Version: October 2014
$1,725,000
Construction
2,418,500.00
Total
Home Depot
Project Name: The Hillside ‘Green’ Revitalization Project
Project Contact: Donna VanNess
Submission Category: Housing Development
Total Uses of Funds $
$ 2,418,500.00
Housing Partnership Network
$ 37,500.00
Architect & Engineering
$2,418,500.00
$ 40,000.00
$ 100,000.00
$ 42,000.00
$ 45,000.00
$ 250,000.00
$1,941,500.00
Amount
Total Uses = Total Sources
Total Sources of Funds $ 2,418,500.00
Enterprise Green Communities Grant
Citi Foundation
$ 45,000.00
Site Prep
Source
City of Fort Worth HUD HOME Investment
Partnership Program
Wells Fargo Priority Markets
$ 225,000.00
Amount
Sources of Funds
Land Acquisition
Use
Uses of Funds
PROJECT SOURCES & USES OF FUNDS
NDC Academy 2015
Housing Development
The Hillside 'Green' Revitalization Project