2002 Winners

2002 National Communities of Quality Awards Announced

Jan. 17, 2003, Alexandria, Va. – Winners of the National Affordable Housing Management Association’s 2002 Communities of Quality Awards have challenged the negative stereotypes of affordable housing and proven that it is a place residents truly call “home.”

Winners were G&K Management Co., Inc., Culver City, Calif., Outstanding Turnaround of a Troubled Property; First Realty Management Corp., Boston, Mass., Exemplary Family Development; and Community Housing Network (CHN), Columbus, Ohio, and Interstate Realty Management, Marlton, N.J., which tied for the Exemplary Development for the Elderly or Disabled Award.

“These awards are particularly noteworthy because of dwindling federal and state resources that are essential to affordable housing,” said NAHMA President Wayne Fox.

The 2002 COQ winners are:

  • Turnaround of a Troubled Property: The 50-unit Villa San Dimas Apartments, San Dimas, Calif., was once notorious for gang activity and crime. A safe environment was the result of an aggressive effort by G&K Management which partnered with the County of Los Angeles’ Sheriff’s Department.
  • Exemplary Family Development Award: The 320-unit Battles Farms Village, Brockton, is located in one of the most economically disadvantaged cities in Massachusetts. A $2.5 million capital improvement program upgraded and modernized the property, which now has a community center where there are education and recreational programs and services for children, adults and seniors.
  • Exemplary Development for the Elderly or Disabled: CHN survived the “not-in-my-back-yard” opposition of local residents. It built and manages apartment homes in Columbus for the mentally disabled, and collaborates with community mental health centers to provide essential services. The property was featured on CBS 60 Minutes.
  • Exemplary Development for the Elderly or Disabled: As a crisis looms in housing and services for seniors, residents at the Interstate-managed 51-unit Park Plaza Apartments enjoy the comforts of home — the activity calendar is full of social and recreational programs and services, programs with local police and fire departments assure resident safety, the local high school offers educational programs and residents also take part in planning new programs and services.

NAHMA members manage more than 50 percent of all privately-owned, government-assisted housing and provide quality affordable housing to over four million Americans. On their behalf, NAHMA advocates for affordable quality multifamily housing by bringing nationwide attention to the need for preserving decent, safe and sanitary housing, and advocates for establishment of industry standards for affordable housing professionals. NAHMA encourages creation of public/private partnerships among property owners and managers, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Congress and others with an interest in preserving affordable housing.