The winner of the first HUD Secretary's Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation is a mixed-use project called the A.T. Lewis and Rio Grande Lofts. Begun as separate redevelopment activities in two adjacent historic buildings, the two projects were combined into a single, comprehensive project that created 120 rental units and restored 46,000 square feet of retail space in the heart of downtown Denver.

The award recognizes outstanding historic preservation projects and partnerships that provide affordable housing and expand economic opportunities for low-income people.

Shortly after taking office, HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo asked PD&R to develop an awards program with several major national organizations: the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the American Planning Association (APA), and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. PD&R has worked with each organization to add a new HUD Secretary's Award category to its existing annual awards programs. At this time, the NAHB and APA awards programs are in their second year and the first awards program with the National Trust for Historic Preservation was announced recently.

For more information see Fieldworks, January/February 1999.