Congratulations to the 2020 Ruby Award Winners!
Congratulations to the 2020 Ruby Award Winners!
If you missed the original broadcast of the event or want to view it again, please visit: https://youtu.be/zneYqHgN0KI
Outstanding Resident Leader
An Outstanding Resident Leader is an individual residing in affordable housing in our region who has played an important role in promoting the creation of more affordable housing and/or enhancing how affordable housing improves the lives of residents and local communities.
The Ruby Award went to Jason Pannell. Jason has donated hundreds of hours to bring food to the residents of Atmosphere Apartments. He goes out of his way to make others’ lives better; through his dedication and charity work he has brought gratitude and unity to the Atmosphere community.
Outstanding Service to Residents
Outstanding Service to Residents goes to an individual employee, volunteer, team, or program that is going beyond the call of duty to make a difference in the lives of residents.
The Ruby Award for Outstanding Service to Residents went to Robin Strickland. Robin is a caring, thoughtful person with an infectious laugh most cannot help but gravitate towards. She has a gift for transforming challenging circumstances into positive outcomes. With her thirst for creating a happier and healthier community, she influenced change in the residents’ moods, minds, and hearts. She listened and responded to problems, provided interludes of fun, and smoothed misunderstanding whether between residents themselves or residents and property management. She brought stability to the residents’ lives by establishing structure, expectations and giving them hope.
Outstanding Advocate
An Outstanding Advocate is an individual or organization who is raising their voice so that we can all raise ours.
The Ruby Award for Outstanding Advocate went to Sue Reynolds. Sue Reynolds is a lifelong advocate of affordable housing and social justice. Since her first experience working at a nonprofit serving communities with low incomes, she has made an impact on the sector in so many ways – from organizing affordable housing residents to putting together millions of dollars in financing for nonprofit affordable housing communities to leading nationally recognized affordable housing developer Community HousingWorks for 23 years. Sue is one of the founders and dedicated member of the San Diego Housing Federation, supporting the growth and advocacy of affordable housing in the region. Sue’s presence, determination, and leadership have helped change the landscape of affordable housing in San Diego and throughout the state.
SDG&E Environmental Award
The SDG&E Sustainability Award for Retrofit recognizes affordable housing that promotes energy efficiency and/or sustainability in their design and construction.
The Ruby Award went to San Diego Habitat for Humanity.
CSH Supportive Housing Award
This award recognizes an outstanding supportive housing project, organization, or individual leader in San Diego. Nominees in this category are completed housing developments that have a focus on supportive services to enable people to end their homelessness.
The Ruby Award went to The Beacon. The Beacon is a high quality supportive housing project that not only ends homelessness for 44 adults and transition-aged youth in San Diego, but also provides a home filled with the supports that enable tenants to thrive. The Beacon’s tenant focused approach prioritized design and operational details that make an incredible difference for people moving from the street into housing, record-setting three-day lease up, and units filled with resources that demonstrate the depth of supports for tenants now that they are home.
Outstanding Development Partner
In the category for Outstanding Development Partner, the nominees exemplify what it means to be partner who provided outstanding support on an affordable housing development.
The Ruby Award for Outstanding Development Partner went to Allgire General Contractors. Allgire General Contractors is a local family-owned business that has worked with most of the major affordable housing developers in San Diego to complete numerous developments – including previous Ruby Award winners Talmadge Gateway in 2018 and Hotel Churchill in 2016. They are an impressive team of highly-qualified and knowledgeable employees from the office to the field who work well together and with other team members on the job. Over the years the company has demonstrated qualities that make the firm an Outstanding Development Partner including the ability to deliver high-quality projects, a solid reputation for integrity, and a dedication to the affordable housing sector that has led to the establishment of a new charitable foundation funding scholarships for people in affordable housing along with starter kits that include much-needed household supplies for new residents.
Outstanding Government Agency or Elected Official
Nominees for Outstanding Government Agency or Elected Official took unusual risks or initiatives to support affordable housing and community development.
The Ruby Award for Outstanding Government Agency or Elected Official went to Mayor Catherine Blakespear. Mayor Catherine Blakespear supports RHNA, works with elected officials across the county and across party lines, and the has done incredible work in her community to support housing such as with the safe parking lots and overcoming NIMBY opposition. Her newsletters and thoughtful, nuanced approach to explaining the importance of housing, RHNA, and increased density to residents should be a model for leaders across the region facing NIMBY opposition.
Innovations Award
The Innovations Award encompasses new and interesting ideas in housing or services.
The Ruby Award went to YIGBY- Yes In God's Back Yard. Yes In God's Backyard Housing is an innovative approach to low cost, quick construction of affordable housing. It partners modular housing with Faith Community Partners looking to utilize underutilized land or airspace above their parking lot through the use of a platform.
John Craven Memorial Award
Our next award honors a public employee who has taken unique risks or gone above and beyond the call of duty to facilitate the creation of affordable homes in a community or jurisdiction. The award is bestowed in memory of John Craven, one of San Diego’s most dedicated housing development officials.
The John Craven Memorial Award went to Council President Georgette Gomez. Council President, Georgette Gomez is a fierce and passionate leader with a clear voice as an affordable housing advocate. Georgette cut through over a decade of stalemated discussions to successfully update San Diego’s Inclusionary Housing Policy and Fee, stabilizing and increasing critically important resources for the City for generations to come.
Housing Project of the Year – Rehab
This award recognizes excellence in affordable housing developments that were acquisition or rehabilitation projects completed in San Diego County between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018.
The Ruby Award went to Zephyr, Affirmed Housing. Affirmed Housing, HA Builders, and Basis Architecture worked together to convert a rundown Motel 6 and Denny’s into a new community that includes 84 units set-aside for veterans experiencing homelessness and an additional on-site property manager’s unit. The motel rooms were completely remodeled into apartment units with kitchenettes. The former Denny’s now houses a light-filled residents’ community room, computer area with library, TV lounge and teaching kitchen, which are all fully accessible. PATH San Diego provides on-site wrap around services which include individual case management, multiple classes, health services, and support groups. Zephyr is an excellent example of adaptive reuse of a structure past its useful life that creates a vibrant community for an extremely vulnerable population.
Housing Project of the Year – New Construction
This award recognizes excellence in affordable housing developments completed in San Diego County between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018.
The Ruby Award went to Bluewater and Stella, Affirmed Housing. Located in the “choice” neighborhood of Grantville, Bluewater and Stella offer 160 affordable apartment homes. Located on the same parcel, the adjoined communities have been designed to seamlessly blend with one another and the community at large. Bluewater offers 80 affordable one, two- and three-bedroom apartment homes to those who earn 50% - 60% AMI. Stella offers 80 studio and one-bedroom apartments to the formerly homeless as well as on-site services. In proximity to public transit and the local highways, Bluewater and Stella promote walkability and are in proximity to many amenities. Green point rated, Bluewater and Stella represent innovation in development of affordable housing.
THANK YOU TO THE SPONSORS OF THE 2020 RUBY AWARDS!
Jade Sponsors:
California Housing Partnership Corporation (CHPC)
Century Housing Corporation
Housing Development Partners
La Maestra Foundation
Low Income Investment Fund
National Community Renaissance
Turquoise Sponsors:
Bank of America
Chelsea Investment Corporation
Gubb and Barshay, LLP
LPA, Inc.
RedStone Equity
Rodriguez Associates Architects
Studio E Architects
Union Bank
Amethyst Sponsors:
Affirmed Housing Group
MFRG-ICON Construction
San Diego Gas & Electric
San Diego Housing Commission
San Diego Interfaith Housing Foundation
US Bank
Wells Fargo
Award Sponsors:
Corporation for Supportive Housing - CSH Supportive Housing Award Sponsor
John Craven Family - John Craven Memorial Award Sponsor
San Diego Gas & Electric – SDG&E Environmental Award
Sun Country Builders - Outstanding Service to Residents Award Sponsor
Wakeland Housing & Development- Outstanding Resident Leader Award Sponsor
Title Sponsor:
Chase Bank