Silver City Townhomes, an affordable and energy-efficient housing complex, is fully occupied.

Silver City Townhomes, 20 rent-to-own homes developed by Layton Boulevard West Neighbors (LBWN) and Wisconsin Redevelopment, has won the State Farm Building Blocks Award for a real estate project that enhances the community. The townhomes were built on a vacant lot near 35th Street and National Avenue.

LBWN and Wisconsin Redevelopment received the award at the 12th annual Milwaukee Awards for Neighborhood Development Innovation (MANDI) dinner on March 30. Other finalists were Bishop’s Creek Family Housing, King Drive Commons III and Olga Village Apartments.

“We are honored and humbled to be in such great company with other people in Milwaukee who’ve work so hard to create these developments that have made such a great impact in our neighborhoods,” said Charlotte John-Gomez, executive director of LBWN.

The homes were built using locally available materials, high-efficiency lighting and a “living roof” that diverts rainfall from storm water runoff and lowers utility bills. Units have off-street parking, decks and master suites, and all were filled before the project was completed.

State Farm made its first national tax credit investment in Silver City Townhomes. Noted John-Gomez, “[This] is a national model for both cooperation and quality.”

The MANDI awards, hosted by LISC Milwaukee, drew nearly 600 people. Awards were presented in six categories to honor outstanding efforts to revitalize Milwaukee’s central city neighborhoods.