Housing Authority celebrates opening of Westlawn Gardens

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A home is a place of comfort and joy. That's certainly the case for Angeline Prescott, as she was excited to move into her new place in the Westlawn Gardens development, near 60th and Silver Spring on the city's west side.

"I was the first person to live in this brand new apartment and I just thank God for it," says Prescott.

This transformed neighborhood provides high quality housing for low-income individuals.

"It recognizes that people, regardless of their income, are still entitled to decent housing in the United States of America and certainly here in the city of Milwaukee," says Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.

The Housing Authority of Milwaukee held its annual meeting celebrating the opening of the Westlawn Gardens.

This development provides multifamily buildings, town-homes, and single family homes to more than 300 residents.

"It brings the kind of variety and the kind of interest that people will say wow I would like to live there," says Housing Authority Secretary-Executive Director Tony Perez.

The homes have energy-efficient features and some are built to cater to people with health problems.

"So you have the hard surfaces, low VOC paints, and the kind of ventilation system that assist some of the families that we`re trying to get into those units that have been afflicted with asthma," says Perez.

In time, The Housing Authority has plans to sell some of the lots for market rate housing and commercial development.

"Mixed income and mixed use environments are the basis of healthy communities," says Perez.

As for Prescott, she's looking forward to spending the rest of her years at Westlawn Gardens.

"I'm hoping I can have my place forever," says Prescott.

Westlawn was originally developed in the 1950s as a public housing development.

Now that is has been revitalized for 21st century housing, it's at 100 percent occupancy.