D.C.-based Mixed Housing Development Uses SiteScape Collaboration Software to Build Online Communities.ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 4, 1999-- Washington, D.C.-based Mixed Housing Development Builds Online Neighborhood Communities; Facilitates Job Training with SiteScape Forum SiteScape Inc., a leading provider of easy-to-use web-based collaboration software See collaborative software. , announced today that Edgewood Terrace, a mixed income housing development in Washington, D.C., is using SiteScape Forum collaboration software to build online community participation, share information quickly and easily, and facilitate technology training for its residents. The initial phases of the project include 334 apartments that were recently renovated and equipped with EdgeNet, a fiber optic network; thin-client computers for every apartment; and a community intranet. Phase II and III will bring the total number of networked apartments to 884. "Our goal is to build an online community that supports the work we are doing in the geographic community," said John Zoltner, Community Technology Manager at Edgewood Terrace. "We want to link technology to people's lives in ways that will increase their chances of success in this economy and empower the community. We decided the best way to do this is through forums. Initially we looked at e-groups and other free software, but none of these products really fit Edgewood Terrace's particular needs. SiteScape Forum is amazingly customizable and allows us to modify it for the way our community communicates. We plan to use it extensively throughout the site to get people talking and sharing information with each other." The Edgewood Technology Advisory Board (ETAB ETAB Environmental Testing Advisory Board ), a group of residents committed to developing technology resources at Edgewood, is initially using SiteScape Forum to identify and communicate problems they encounter during the initial phases of the network and systems rollout. Over time, Zoltner hopes to see EdgeNet host forums on issues such as employment advice, system support, security (the Edgewood "CyberPatrol"), or interest groups such as online book clubs. "We're proud to be able to donate our software and services to such a worthy and practical project as this," said Timothy P. Butler, president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of SiteScape. "The Edgewood Terrace installation aptly demonstrates SiteScape Forum's power, flexibility, and ease of use, especially considering most of the residents there are relative novices, having only recently completed computer training classes. " Community Preservation and Development Corp. (CPDC CPDC Community Preservation and Development Corporation CPDC Caribbean Policy Development Centre CPDC Central Philadelphia Development Corporation CPDC Capital Planning, Design and Construction (California State University) ) was approached by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD Hud (h  d), a pre-Qur'anic prophet of Islam. Hud unsuccessfully exhorted his South Arabian people, the Ad, to worship the One God. ) in 1995 to create a model site for the use of technology at Edgewood Terrace. In fact, Edgewood Terrace was the precursor of the now well-established, HUD Neighborhood Networks The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Neighborhood Networks Program was initiated in 1995 to provide access to technology for residents of HUD multifamily housing by developing computer learning centers at HUD housing sites. program (http://www.neighborhoodnetworks.org) which encourages the development of resource and computer learning centers in HUD-assisted housing. These centers work to build self-reliant neighborhoods that meet the needs of lower-income families and seniors where they live. HUD recently honored CPDC (http://www.hud.gov/pressrel/pr99-126.html) for its leadership among Neighborhood Networks Centers from a field of over 3400 organizations nationwide that were nominated for 100 "HUD Best Practices Awards." HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo Andrew Mark Cuomo (born December 6, 1957, in Queens, New York) is the New York State Attorney General. He was elected on November 7, 2006. Previously Cuomo was the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Bill Clinton between 1997 and 2001. calls the award "HUD's equivalent of the Academy Awards, given for an outstanding performance in service of the American people An American people may be:
In addition to providing network services and computers in each apartment, CPDC built The Gateway @ Edgewood Terrace, five on-site networked learning centers which offer technical training classes - including web development, the Computer and Office Skills Employment Program, the Bell Atlantic SEEDS Telecomm Customer Service Program, Career development consulting, youth development programs, a variety of programs for seniors, and Microsoft Office Microsoft's primary desktop applications for Windows and Mac. Depending on the package, it includes some combination of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and Outlook along with various Internet and other utilities. certification - for both Edgewood Terrace and area residents. About CPDC Since 1989, CPDC has proven its ability to create and maintain sound, safe, and sustainable environments in which people can prosper, including mixed-income, multi-cultural, and intergenerational in·ter·gen·er·a·tion·al adj. Being or occurring between generations: "These social-insurance programs are intergenerational and all communities. To date, the organization has acquired 14 affordable housing properties with approximately 2,000 units. These developments span a variety of development styles, building types and sizes, and meet different community needs. Collectively, they point to CPDC's unique combination of real estate development knowledge, experience and nonprofit A corporation or an association that conducts business for the benefit of the general public without shareholders and without a profit motive. Nonprofits are also called not-for-profit corporations. Nonprofit corporations are created according to state law. commitment to creating places for residents and communities to grow and thrive. CPDC's work has been successful due to the organization's ability to partner with residents, corporations and local organizations to create truly "community-based" solutions to affordable housing development. For more information about CPDC, visit http://www.cpdc.org. About SiteScape SiteScape is a leading provider of web-based, team collaboration software; support; and customization and hosting services. Founded in August 1995 as a full-service Internet consultancy, SiteScape is a privately held, venture-backed company headquartered in Maynard, Massachusetts Maynard is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2001 census, the town population was 10,037. History Maynard, located on the Assabet River, was first settled in 1638 and was officially incorporated in 1871. , with offices in Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 128,284. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) south of downtown Washington, DC. , and North Carolina North Carolina, state in the SE United States. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean (E), South Carolina and Georgia (S), Tennessee (W), and Virginia (N). Facts and Figures Area, 52,586 sq mi (136,198 sq km). Pop. . In April 1999, SiteScape acquired the collaboration software AltaVista Forum from Compaq Computer, Inc., along with the highly seasoned team of engineers who designed, developed, and supported this software. For more information about SiteScape and its products, visit www.sitescape.com. |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion