The ELM Group, Inc. and the Bitonti Development Company received the 2009 Phoenix award for US EPA region 2 in recognition of the Millville housing project. In addition, the project was awarded first runner-up honors for the best redevelopment project of 2009. The Millville Housing Project is worthy of national recognition as our 2009 Region 2 winner because the project shows that LEED Certification and other energy efficiency programs can enhance the viability and long term sustainability of ‘green’ affordable housing. In addition, it provides a safe, environmentally friendly, energy efficient option in this ‘first of its kind’ LEED certified affordable housing within the state of New Jersey. In addition to enhancing the lifestyle of its residents, the project also supports the Smart Growth policies in New Jersey by being located on a former brownfield site in a designated smart growth area of the City of Millville.
Created in 1997, the Phoenix award honors individuals and groups working to solve critical environmental or social challenges, transforming blighted and contaminated areas into productive new uses and developing sustainable green building projects. The Phoenix Awards are widely recognized as the outstanding award for achievement of excellence in Brownfield redevelopment, and often are called “the Brownfields equivalent of Hollywood’s Oscar.” The Phoenix Award winners represent outstanding brownfield or environmental projects from each of the 10 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regions, including projects selected for special honors.
