Valencia Vista Earns National Award From NAHRO
San Bernardino, Calif. – The first phase of highly anticipated Arrowhead Grove Neighborhood Revitalization effort, is being honored with a National Award of Excellence from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO).
The 76-unit Valencia Vista community is part of a model public-private partnership that is transforming a neighborhood vital to the future of San Bernardino. Centered at the former Waterman Gardens public housing project, the Arrowhead Grove revitalization will include 400-plus new housing units, community centers, an enhanced focus on education and healthy living, and supportive service to end the cycle of poverty.
National Community Renaissance (National CORE), one of the nation’s largest and most respected nonprofit community builders, is the master developer for Arrowhead Grove. Partners include the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino, the City of San Bernardino, the San Bernardino City Unified School District, the Hope through Housing Foundation and the Clancy Co.
“This kind of national recognition reaffirms what a remarkable partnership Arrowhead Grove is, and the opportunities that exist for broad community transformation when like minds work together,” said Steve PonTell, President and Chief Executive Officer of National CORE. “The real validation, however, comes as lives are transformed, economic and employment opportunities grow and the entire city benefits.”
“Arrowhead Grove a true catalyst for positive change in a core area of the city, addressing a critical need for high-quality housing while creating broad economic development opportunities for the community at large,” said Maria Razo, the Housing Authority’s Executive Director.
The Arrowhead Grove redevelopment is a key element of the Waterman+Baseline Neighborhood Specific Plan, approved earlier this year by the San Bernardino City Council.
The specific plan provides comprehensive and multi-faceted strategies for revitalization of the neighborhoods surrounding Arrowhead Grove. The plan establishes a long-term vision for the area accommodating the addition of 1.2 million square feet of new employment and commercial uses and 2,400 new housing units.
The NAHRO award will be presented at the organization’s National Conference & Exhibition on Oct. 29 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.
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About National CORE, Hope through Housing
National Community Renaissance, based in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit developers of affordable housing. National CORE manages nearly 9,000 affordable, senior and market-rate units in California, Arkansas, Texas and Florida. Over its nearly two decade history, the Hope through Housing Foundation has provided more than 2 million hours of transformational social services such as financial literacy training, senior wellness, and preschool and afterschool programs. For more information on National CORE and Hope through Housing, please visit www.nationalcore.org.