NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans-based developer Redmellon Restoration & Development placed as Silver Medalists in the 2017 Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence (RBA) for its Iberville Off-Site Rehab project receiving $10,000. Redmellon donated the prize money to the New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter, one of Redmellon’s partners for its anti-gentrification development. The Iberville Offsite project is a sensitive rehabilitation of 46 existing units of blighted, historic housing into long-term affordable housing in a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood.
RBA is a national design award that recognizes transformative urban places distinguished by their economic and social contributions to America’s cities. A mission-driven real estate development company, Redmellon Restoration & Development creates and maintains affordable housing in gentrifying areas and partners with nonprofit organizations that need help planning, executing and funding their visions, reps said.
According to Neal Morris, the principal at Redmellon Restoration & Development, “It is an honor to win the Silver for such a prestigious award and to be recognized by our peers for our work. We are thrilled to donate the money to our partners at the New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter, in support of their work of housing the most vulnerable homeless population in this city.”
“Receiving community support is critical to the success of our Shelter,” said Dawn Bradley-Fletcher, executive director of the New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter. “We want to thank Redmellon for recognizing our work of caring for homeless families in New Orleans and transitioning them to independent living.”
The New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter is the largest shelter for homeless women and children in New Orleans, with a mission to transition homeless families to sustainable and independent living. Since its inception in 2007, the Shelter has helped more than 1,500 homeless women and children transition from living on the street to safe, affordable housing. An average of 88 percent of the families served by the New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter transition to independence and stability. The Shelter continues to stay filled to capacity and at any given time, two-thirds of the residents are children. Recognizing the needs of every child, the Shelter has implemented a comprehensive children’s case management program and after-school education and enrichment program, reps said.
