PAH! Apartments Award

The Sol Housing project PAH! Hiland Plaza received the Prestigious Audrey Nelson Award from the National Community Development Association (NCDA) for its outstanding role in developing affordable housing for the Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard of Hearing. The project is funded through private and public contributions from the City of Albuquerque and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from Housing New Mexico, MFA. Each year, the award is given to a handful of projects nationwide recognizing innovative and exemplary uses of federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding.

PAH! Hiland Plaza is the only apartment community in Albuquerque serving the Deaf community and one of just a few in the country. The four-story apartment community near Central and San Mateo comprises 92 one, two, and three bedroom units. Deaf focused design features ensure an equitable living option for residents who rely primarily on visual communication, such as American Sign Language (ASL), and visual cues, such as fire alarms and doorbells that alert residents through flashing lights. The building is also designed with lighting and paint colors to minimize eye stress. Staff at the facility are also fluent in American Sign Language (ASL), and include members of the local Deaf community.

Sol Housing partnered with the Deaf Culture Center of New Mexico (DCCNM) to design this unique community home to the DCCNM’s offices and event space. The DCCNM is utilizing the space to offer statewide Deaf services, community events, and a business incubation program to promote Deaf business opportunities and job training.

Other features include a food pantry, electric vehicle ride-share, indoor bike storage, a community room, a resident's lounge, a computer lab, a private dog park, and a playground.

President of DCCNM holding Audrey Nelson Award at grand opening
President of DCCNM holding Audrey Nelson Award at grand opening