U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Ron Sims recently visited Palo Vista Garden Community, an Oakland Housing Authority (OHA) property that is receiving funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) for capital improvements and energy efficiency upgrades. It is one of seven developments that is receiving funding through OHA’s total $10.6 million Recovery Act Public Housing Capital Fund (PHCF) grant.
Sims praised OHA’s plan to add solar panels to a 100-unit senior complex that will provide 95 percent of the electricity for lighting in all common areas of the complex. Other "green" improvements to Palo Vista, funded through the Recovery Act, include establishing a system for solar heating for apartments, new roofs on all the units and energy efficient windows.
"Palo Vista Garden Community is another example of the investments we are making to improve public housing in America, create jobs and grow local economies," said Sims. "The Oakland Housing Authority, and this project, should be seen as a model of the effective use of Recovery Act funds, creating as many as 50 jobs for local residents while increasing energy efficiency and reducing utility costs for both public housing residents and the government."
