First-Ever Livable Communities Award Winners Announced by AARP and NAHB

WASHINGTON (Map) - Five Organizations Recognized for Creating User-Friendly Homes and Developments Appropriate for All Ages and Abilities

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AARP and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) today announced that two builders, two developers and one remodeler will receive the groups' co-sponsored 2007 Livable Communities Award for forward thinking in the field of home and community design. The Livable Communities Award honors builders, developers and remodelers that create attractive, well-designed homes and communities, which are safe, comfortable and accessible for people of all ages and abilities.

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The winning projects include an affordable, co-housing complex that preserves open space and community gardens; a mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly college town community in an evolving urban setting; an "Easy Living" home featuring built-in user-friendly design elements; a state-of-the-art energy efficient home designed for all ages with the architectural details of its adjoining historic neighborhood; and a house remodeled with function and fashion in mind to be a "home for a lifetime."

"These winners have done outstanding work that recognizes the need for quality housing and community design to ensure people can enjoy their homes in comfort and safety and get maximum enjoyment and benefits from their neighborhood," said Elinor Ginzler, AARP's Director of Livable Communities. "This award celebrates the ingenuity of the winners in meeting the growing need and demand for user-friendly homes and communities designed to meet the needs and abilities of all residents."

"These builders, remodelers and developers are being recognized as leaders in the effort to meet the needs of the nation's 50-plus consumers and their families," said NAHB President Brian Catalde, a home builder from El Segundo, Calif. "This fast-growing market is very important to our industry, and these award-winning projects provide great examples of design innovations that promote more safe and comfortable living."

The 2007 AARP and NAHB Livable Communities awards recognize five companies in five categories.

Builder up to 2500 square feet -- John Wesley Miller Companies (for Armory Park del Sol in Tucson, AZ) This user-friendly home design features state-of-the-art energy efficient technology, including solar panels and solar water heating systems, to reduce energy usage by 56%. The house also includes a well-designed kitchen, bathroom, entryways, and architectural details of the surrounding historic neighborhood.

Builder more than 2500 square feet -- Wendt Builders Inc. (for Olde Town Grayson, Lot 13B in Grayson, GA) Besides a step-free entrance, a full bedroom and bath on the main floor and, and broad doorways, design upgrades in this builder's "Easy Living" house includes barrier-free showers, Jacuzzi tubs with large ledges, deep pull-out kitchen cabinet drawers, and recessed and rope lighting throughout the house.

Developer up to 250 units -- Madison Area Community Land Trust (for Troy Gardens in Madison, WI) This 30-unit, mixed-income, co-housing community now protects 26 acres of open space for environmental preservation -- currently used as an organic farm, community gardens, a prairie and a wildlife habitat -- yet meets the highest standards for individual accessibility and is an easy public transit or bike ride to downtown Madison.

Developer more than 250 units -- The Integral Group (for CollegeTown at West End in Atlanta, GA) This mixed-income, mixed-use college town community -- which will eventually include multi-family apartments and units designed for those 50+, retail and commercial space, town houses, single-family homes and an inn -- is a pedestrian-friendly community in an evolving urban setting close to cultural attractions in the greater Atlanta area.

Remodeler more than $25,000 -- Quality, Design & Construction, Inc. (for "Ann's Ridge Road Dream" in Raleigh, NC) This remodeled home was designed to accommodate the owners current and future needs in an already existing structure. Subtle elements promoting safety, comfort and accessibility include a step-free entry, the absence of hallways on the first floor, zoned, recessed lighting and task lighting throughout the house, easy-to-use kitchen cabinets, a roomy bath with a curbless shower, and multi-level countertops.

Winners will be honored at a dinner in Washington DC, on December 11, 2007 and will also be featured in AARP The Magazine, the nation's most widely circulated magazine. For more information, photos and video clips on the winning projects, visit http://www.aarp.org/livablecommunitiesaward.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, our bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, our quarterly newsletter for 50 + educators; and our website,AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The National Association of Home Builders is a Washington-based trade association representing more than 235,000 members involved in home building, remodeling, multifamily construction, property management, subcontracting, design, housing finance, building product manufacturing and other aspects of residential and light commercial construction. Known as "the voice of the housing industry," NAHB is affiliated with more than 800 state and local home builders associations around the country. NAHB's builder members will construct 80 percent of the more than 1.56 million new housing units projected for 2007, making housing one of the largest engines of economic growth in the country.