Positively Paseo and Fortified homes
By: J. David Chapman/August 20, 2020
I have previously written about the outstanding work that Positively Paseo does in revitalizing neighborhoods in the Oklahoma City community. I have also written about the significance of the IBHS Fortified home program and its contribution to safer home practices in the U.S. In today’s column, I have the privilege to throw in another outstanding organization that has linked the two together – the Disaster Resilience Network.
The OKC Housing Redevelopment Corp., also known as Positively Paseo, has completed four-single family homes that met the IBHS Fortified Home standard. The homes located in the Capitol View neighborhood are part of a city of Oklahoma City-led revitalization effort for the neighborhood. Through OKC’s Strong Neighborhood Initiative, the neighborhood is experiencing revitalization and investment through infrastructure improvements, tree planting and hazardous tree removal, park improvements, and new affordable homes. Positively Paseo’s homes are built on previously vacant lots and go exclusively to buyers who will occupy the home.
“Homeownership is truly a game-changer in people’s lives,” said Sheryl Lovelady, executive director of Positively Paseo. “It is also a game-changer for our neighborhoods that have tipped too far into rental. The addition of Fortified roofs to these homes improves the quality and saves the homeowner significantly on their homeowners insurance.”
The Disaster Resilience Network provided Positively Paseo $5,000 from a State Farm grant to offset the higher costs to build the four IBHS Fortified Roofs. “We couldn’t be happier with the outcome of this project,” said Tim Lovell, executive director of the Disaster Relief Network. “Oklahoma experiences more than our fair share of weather-related disasters and these roofs help form a solid defense against the elements.”
Representatives from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety took part in the first roofs to be constructed in the Capitol View neighborhood in Oklahoma City, taking educational videos of the Fortified Roofs being built. Others to donate time and resources to this project were A to Z Inspections, Heartland Roofing, Malarkey Roofing, National Nail Stinger Cap Systems, and Simpson Strong-Tie.
Investing in a Fortified Roof gives a family the best protection from wind, rain and hail by creating a system of defenses to keep the roof on and rain out. Because of the results of this project, Positively Paseo plans to integrate Fortified Roofs in its future developments.
J. David Chapman is an associate professor of finance and real estate at the University of Central Oklahoma (jchapman7@uco.edu).