Marlton, NJ—Park Spring Apartments in Spring City, Pennsylvania, has been named the 2010 "Exemplary Family Development" by the National Affordable Housing Management Association, as part of its Communities of Quality Annual Awards program. The prestigious award was presented to Interstate Realty Management—which has managed the Park Spring community since it was developed by Michaels Development in 1979—at an awards luncheon March 7, held in conjunction with NAHMA's Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
Both Michaels Development and Interstate Realty Management are companies of The Michaels Organization.
"We are so proud of Park Spring Apartments," said John O'Donnell, chief operating officer of The Michaels Organization. "This community really epitomizes The Michaels Organization's commitment to creating assets of long-term value and to offering supportive services that enhance the lives of our residents and that provide opportunities for education and empowerment."
The Communities of Quality recognition program offered by NAHMA, which is the leading national association for affordable housing management firms, certifies multifamily properties that have achieved a high standard of excellence in the way they are managed, the services they provide residents, and the experience and training of personnel, among other criteria. Only those affordable communities that have earned the "Community of Quality" designation are eligible to apply for the national awards program.
Park Spring Apartments serves families eligible for Section 8 housing assistance in garden-style Townhouses in Spring City. In addition to its excellent physical condition after 32 years of IRM's management, Park Spring also offers its residents a full slate of supportive services and has forged deep and valuable partnerships with the local school district, the police, hospitals, church groups and other local organizations that benefit not only the residents of Park Spring Apartments, but the larger community.
More than a dozen organizations –from the Police Chief to the Girl Scouts to the YMCA—wrote letters supporting Park Spring's nomination for the Exemplary Family Development award.
"We have followed a good neighbor policy in our efforts to become an asset within the Community at large," said Lucretia Lee, the site manager at Park Spring, who said she shares this prestigious award with those community partners as well as her residents. Ms. Lee credits her Social Services Coordinator Ed Rodriguez for his tremendous commitment to innovative programming for Park Spring residents and for leading the efforts to create partnerships that serve their entire neighborhood.
Although the national award is itself a great achievement, The Michaels Organization's COO John O'Donnell is especially pleased with the accolades from the community's leaders.
"Thirty years ago, Michaels faced a lot of opposition when we were building Park Spring Apartments, so it is especially gratifying today to have it recognized as a Community of Quality that is supported by all its neighbors," O'Donnell said.