Noblesville-based HAND Inc. was honored at LISC Indianapolis’ third-annual LOVE Thy Neighborhood Awards on Thursday, winning the Vitality award for its Home Place Gardens development in Carmel.
The LOVE Awards recognize community game changers in the Indianapolis region – “the people and places that have made outstanding progress in developing their neighborhoods as desirable places to live, work, learn, play and stay.”
A field of 60 nominees was narrowed to three finalists in each of four categories:
- Livability: Creating healthy, active and beautiful places
- Opportunity: Fostering entrepreneurship and employment
- Vitality: Reviving a growing and diverse population
- Education: Offering excellent lifelong learning opportunities
Other finalists in the Vitality category were Shelton Heights Neighborhood Park in Indianapolis and the Hearts & Hands of Indiana home-rehab program.
Indy Urban Acres won the Livability award, the Build Fund won the Opportunity award and Starfish Initiative won the Education award. Each winner received $2,500, a trophy and a professionally produced video that premiered at the awards ceremony.
Those attending the awards gala at the Indiana War Memorial selected the winner of a People’s Choice award after watching the videos. Brookside Community Play, a finalist in the Education category, took home that $5,000 prize.
HAND’s Home Place Gardens development, which opened last year in a newly annexed area of Carmel, is located on 2.4 acres south of 106th Street between College Avenue and the Monon Greenway. The inter-generational community includes eight one- and two-bedroom duplex apartments for low-income seniors ages 55 and older and two three-bedroom detached homes for families who have survived violence and are referred by Prevail Inc. Those two rental houses are the only of their kind in Hamilton County, which does not have an emergency shelter.
HAND’s mission is to be a leader in promoting prosperity and diversity in its communities by providing quality housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals and families.