Fort Wayne, Ind. (May 26, 2021) – A unique and transformative, urban revitalization initiative underway in Fort Wayne, Ind.. This project, which is part of the Moving Forward program launched by the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority (IHCDA) and Energy Systems Network (ESN), is an energy efficient and technologically innovative, multi-family development that features an ecological and comprehensive education center of community-based programs and services for low-income and underserved single-parent families. According to the IHCDA, the project, led by BWI, has state-of-the-art, innovative components that are the first-of-its-kind in the United States.
Complete and fully leased, the project is called Posterity Scholar House (PSH). PSH is a 44-unit apartment community designed for project-based Section 8 vouchered single parents enrolled in college or a certification program in order to break the cycle of poverty. PSH is the first project to come from the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority’s Moving Forward program, aimed at providing affordable housing that increases quality of life while decreasing the total cost of living for low-and moderate-income individuals and families by focusing on utility, transportation, and rental costs.
With key local certificate programs and university partnerships in place, PSH residents have access to courses that will prepare them for careers in healthcare, food science, culinary arts, manufacturing, skilled trades and information technology. In addition to classes, Fort Wayne Housing Authority and other partners are providing life-coaching support, career development support, employment information and other supportive services.
The Developer, BWI, is working in partnership with ESN to bring the concept of energy efficiency, smart and solar powered affordable options to the project. The development provides a wide range of shared amenities including a LISC Indianapolis funded high-tech 300KW net-zero solar array and electric vehicle charging stations. This state-of-the-art technology, developed through a BWI partnership with Purdue University and the National Science Foundation, provides residents with the ability to control and monitor their energy use; and receive incentive rewards for keeping their energy usage below a certain threshold. In addition, residents and community members have access to a hybrid-electric, shared-transportation infrastructure with four Prius Prime vehicles provided by Toyota. The cars can be reserved online via the tenant smart phone application and offers access to transportation without the costs of owning and maintaining a personal vehicle.
