Officials held a Friday groundbreaking for a “green build” house in the Malone neighborhood. 

The design of the home at 631 N. 24th St. includes passive solar techniques, materials, and building methods essential for sustainable design. 

Mayor Chris Beutler said the innovative homeownership option is part of the “Stronger, Safer Neighborhoods" initiative his office launched in March.

Beutler was joined Friday by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Harvey Perlman; Macie Houston, regional director of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and Kevin Morris of NeighborWorks America’s district office in Kansas City. Representatives of NeighborWorks Lincoln and the UNL’s College of Architecture also took part in the event.

NeighborWorks Lincoln works to revitalize neighborhoods and promote homeownership.

The project also is supported by State Farm Insurance and the Woods Charitable Fund.

“A key goal of our neighborhood initiative is to increase homeownership in key areas of our city,” Beutler said. “Homeownership is essential to building community pride and this home will be a beautiful addition to this historic neighborhood.”

The Malone Neighborhood is the focus of ongoing revitalization efforts by the city.

This house is part of the design project for the UNL Archspace Project. Seventeen students have designed all parts of the home, which will be sold to a participant of the NeighborWorks Lincoln First Time Homebuyer program.

“Hallmarks of UNL’s architecture program are the focus on hands-on experience and a growing emphasis on sustainable building practices,” said Perlman. 

Assistant Professor Peter Hind said the largest sustainable feature of the house is the incorporation of hay bales into the walls to reduce energy consumption. 

“This house serves as a way for future architects to not only understand issues of sustainable design, but it also exposes them to the idea that architecture exists to serve greater responsibilities,” he said.

HUD is sponsoring the project as part of National Homeownership Month.