NEWS RELEASE
October 25, 2002

CONTACT: Ed Einhaus
or Adrienne C. Hamilton
Casino Reinvestment Development Authority
(609) 347-0500

Atlantic City’s Millennia Square Neighborhood Will Bring
Energy Efficiency To New Heights With Solar Powered Homes

Grants Awarded Amount To $231,613 For The Project

ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY – For most people, the security and independence of owning a home is part of the American dream. Enhance that with a structure that is so energy efficient it is virtually free of utility bills, and it may seem beyond even the wildest imagination. Atlantic City's Millennia Square neighborhood, developed by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA), offers a half dozen energy efficient, solar powered homes among 19 new single-family and twin-style residences. Millennia Square's Phase II, commencing during the fourth quarter of 2002, is joining the dozen new homes of Phase I occupying the Atlantic City Northeast Inlet neighborhood, bordered by Grammercy Place and Madison, Rhode Island and Massachusetts Avenues.

Millennia Square, located in the heart of Atlantic City's Northeast Inlet, is in a section of the City that is undergoing a multi-million dollar revitalization spearheaded by the CRDA, which includes transforming decades of decayed urban blight into thriving new residential neighborhoods. The first phase of Millennia Square, constructed through a cooperative partnership with the CRDA and New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), was completed in the summer of 1997, and comprised of 12 single-family and twin-style homes with two, three and four bedrooms. They showcase new building technologies, energy efficiency, and reductions in the standard costs of new home construction, including a prototype solar powered home, and a residence built by Habitat for Humanity.

"The first phase of Millennia Square was an enormously successful and well received housing development," stated Edward Gant, CRDA Chairman. "Phase II allows the CRDA to continue providing affordable homeownership opportunities while maximizing new technologies that enhance livability and create cost efficient residences."

Phase II is also a cooperative effort between First, Inc., project architect, and Gensis Group LTD, combining their talents as developers for the initial six energy efficient, solar powered single-family homes of modular construction. The Cape Cod styled three-bedroom, two-bath and four-bedroom, two-bath models will be utilized with energy saving construction methods and technology, enabling them to approach a zero net utility cost to homeowners, with the surplus energy generated being sold back to the utility company. The structures will also offer Universal Design features, including an accessible or adaptable bathroom on the first floor, smooth, stepless entryways for ease of access, plus extra-wide doors and hallways enabling the easy and cost efficient transformation of the homes to fully accommodate every stage of family life.

"As a testament to this project, the 2002 State Energy Program Special Projects ‘Zero Energy Home’ grant program, administered through the Board of Public Utilities, has awarded $75,613 to First, Inc. and the CRDA," stated Lyle Rawlings, President, First, Inc. "And, as one who has been involved in promoting the use of solar energy for decades, I am gratified to be working with the CRDA and Gensis Group LTD on the Millennia Square project," he added.

Additionally, the United States Department of Energy, through its "PV Bonus" program and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, through its "NJ Clean Energy" program, have provided $78,000 in funding, respectively, for photovoltaics. A total grant amount of $231,613 has been awarded for the project.

Nineteen homes will be constructed in Phase II including the six solar powered models, nine single-family and four semi-detached twin-style homes, all with gas hot water baseboard heating and split zone air conditioning. The traditional seashore style residences offer three or four bedrooms, a private deck or porch, and off-street parking, while the exteriors will clearly capture the traditional architectural designs found along New Jersey’s coastlines. Attractive landscaping along the property lines will provide an appealing and comfortable residential atmosphere throughout Millennia Square perfectly suited for family activities.

For more information call Ed Einhaus or Adrienne C. Hamilton, Casino Reinvestment Development Authority at (609) 347-0500.

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