Pokegama means lake beside a lake in the Ojibwe Language
AICDC in collaboration with the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and others proposes to begin addressing this problem of a lack of affordable housing by creating additional homeownership opportunities in the Ventura Village Neighborhood and Phillips Community in Minneapolis. Pokegema (or lake beside a lake in Ojibwe) is a 6-unit cluster development of sustainable four-bedroom homeownership opportunities for American Indian families.
The site for these units will be located 14th Avenue South and East 21st and East 22nd Streets. The area is located in a Federal Empowerment Zone and Weed & Seed area, is located next to the impacted commercial corridor of Franklin Avenue, and is within “walkable” service area of the Franklin Avenue LRT station.
Potential homeowners will be 30-60% AMI eligible because AICDC is addressing not only the initial affordability of a housing unit but in maintaining affordability in homeownership housing. With energy costs projected to rise at an ever-increasing rate, the greatest challenge to long-term homeownership and housing is addressing those energy costs. Not only would sustainable, green building be ideal but would allow American Indian families a home that is appealing and manageable.
The cost to build a home today using Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) technology is $15,000 more than a unit constructed using traditional 2x6 framing and forced air heating. Yet that home would cost approximately 30% of the energy costs of traditional buildings of equal size.
Storm-water runoff has also become a monthly cost to the homeowner, and such costs will continue to rise as such fee costs are understandably passed along to the homeowner. Common technology such as the AICDC proposed rain-garden allow for a higher quality home today and cost of housing be far less in the future.
American Indian families have had challenges to overcome in acquiring and retaining housing. Through the “Self-Sufficiency for Urban Indians” program, AICDC is making housing not only available but is making such ownership sustainable over time for our target families.
Also, AICDC is partnering with the Green Institute to seek methods to increase long-term homeownership for families through methods of “sustainable technology” and compact design. The Pokegema project will become a model for other such projects and individual homes throughout the Metropolitan Area. HUD officials have asked AICDC to use this development model to benefit Indian people in other areas of the country including Michigan, Chicago, and the Carolinas. AICDC is seeking other national foundation funding and awards due to the “Green” nature of the development.