According to CBS Philly, the New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) teamed up with Citizens Bank and developer Courtney Ludeman from Postgreen Homes to build 14 eco-friendly houses of mixed price at the 1400 block of Thompson and Moyer Streets. The homes were built on what was previously vacant lots. Ludeman has named them “Awesometown.”

Citizens Bank recently gave $75,000 to five different local nonprofits to assist residents with home issues, including repairs, counseling, and outreach programs. 10 of the homes, all of which are partially funded by their donation, are valued at the market rate of $430,000, while four will be subsidized, costing about $215,000.

NKCDC focuses greatly on helping people finance and keep a home. Shanta Schacter, representing the organization, told CBS Philly that the lottery on the homes, held for interested residents with low income, had about 60 respondents, indicating that news about the development has spread quickly throughout the neighborhoods and residents are interested.

NKCDC also recently broke ground on the Orinoka Civic House — a development project that will include 51 units of affordable mixed-income housing. Retail space will take up 1,000 sq. feet on the ground floor and will be the home to a new office space for the NKCDC. Also laid out in the plans are a coffee shop, a community room and parking for residents.