Brad Pitt's 'Make It Right Foundation' Builds Green Homes For Katrina-Hit Neighborhood, New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward (VIDEO)

In 2007, Brad Pitt co-founded the Make It Right Foundation, which aims to build 150 environmentally friendly homes in a New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward which was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina -- Lower Ninth Ward.

This video from Reuters takes a look at some of the houses, which are custom tailored to the specific things that residents liked and disliked about their previous houses.

The buildings employ a range of eco-friendly technology to make them more efficient and healthy, including Energy Star-rated windows and appliances, formaldehyde-free cabinets and paints free of VOCs. Additionally, the houses are elevated 8 feet and have an emergency escape hatch in the roof, in the event of any disasters. They are also affordable, costing about $150,000 each.

Visit the Make It Right website for more information.

WATCH:

Comments

[Cananna]

08:40 PM on 09/25/2010

Huh,
No mention of Mike Holmes, the Canadian contractor whose slogan is "Make it Right" and is actually doing the work.
C'mon, Brad Pitt was on Mike's tv show, he could at least get a mention in an article.

[JimInNevada]

10:02 AM on 09/03/2010

No matter how politically correct, building homes below sea level never was and never will be a good idea.

[doctorj2u]

12:50 PM on 09/03/2010

You can't even do the courtesy for keeping that comment to yourself . You just had to spread the non-support for your own citizens. Good thing we kept on rebuiding anyway. Because of people that love the city, one of the great cultures of this world still exists today, no thanks to people like you. Proud of yourself?

[JXJASON]

04:07 AM on 09/05/2010

Doctorj2u

I saw the pictures of the damage done by a 22 foot tidal surge on the Gulf Coast barrier islands ( from Katrina). I also have a book and an excellent video that shows the destruction of homes in communities on the New Jersey shore from 1911 to 1992.

I would NEVER live in a flood zone. Many of the homes on or near the beach in places like Cape May, Wildwood, Avalon, and Margate, NJ. are/were second homes. If you want to do things that will put you in harms way, kill you or destroy your property you are making a serious mistake. The same is true for doing tricks at high speeds on motorcycles, smoking cigarettes and being obese.

However, as long as the Federal Government provides Flood Insurance, people will continue to rebuild after their properties are destroyed.

[JXJASON]

03:49 AM on 09/05/2010

Dear JiminNevada,

I agree with you. Anyone who chooses to live in areas that suffer natural disasters from flooding and hurricanes is making a bad decision. These people put themselves at risk and then expect the government to save them and provide the money to rebuild. Private insurance companies stopped insuring homes in flood zones. Flood zone insurance is bought from the Federal Government and is subsidized.

[Naithom]

03:23 AM on 09/06/2010

From the report on natural disasters in the US, it would appear that there's really no state that doesn't have a history of semi-regular natural disasters.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_major_natural_disasters_in_the_United_States

So, given the fact that every state has something, it's disingenuous to act as though those who live in coastal areas are any more irresponsible than those people who choose to live where tornadoes occur or where wildfires occur or where blizzards occur.

[trueblueredstater]

09:14 PM on 09/02/2010

The homebuilding industry is amazing - in its resistance to new technologies and methods. If you had a time machine and brought a carpenter forward from 1910, he would need about two days to learn about electric drills, power saws, and pneumatic nail guns. Then he could probably fit right into any crew. Plywood and sheetrock - amazing new technologies carried over from the 1940's.
Why do we still build houses on site? This is like having the auto workers come to your driveway to build you a car - phenomenally more complicated than building in a factory. Also, much, much harder to get all the inspections done.

Mr. Pitt is certainly trying to do a good thing - and accomplishing much more than I am - kudos.

[WriterGirl]

10:40 AM on 09/02/2010

Thank you, Brad. I'm sure people will find a thousand ways to criticize your personal investment, but I am grateful that individuals like you choose to make things happen when national attention turns elsewhere.

[pitlover60]

01:30 PM on 09/01/2010

ooooooooo "green" shoeboxes.............good god these are ugly

[pilotsknob]

11:34 AM on 09/01/2010

The world needs more eco-conscious people like Brad Pitt. I know, he has the money to do so. But anyone can contribute to the foundation, even if it is a dollar. Think what a million individual dollars could do? Kudos to Brad for helping out New Orleans.

[dragonfaeriee]

11:22 AM on 09/01/2010

This is a great effort on Brad's part. Now if only he could employ others in Hollywood (who get paid way too much) to donate and continue the cause.

[pitlover60]

01:30 PM on 09/01/2010

what is way too much...........lib

[lismore]

09:24 AM on 09/01/2010

It would be reassuring if the principles and practices of the Make it Right Foundation were equally applied to levee construction and marshland restoration/mitigation. The measure of any government is what it does to help those who are disadvantaged. This Foundation has made it easy for politicians to follow a beacon; now, good government demands that they support the efforts of this group and they enable those disadvantaged people of the Gulf Coast-easier access to mortgages and generous repayment conditions would be helpful.

[Jolimont]

04:09 AM on 09/01/2010

That's really great, kuddos to the foundation!

[kadyak]

12:28 AM on 09/01/2010

I took a tour of one of these homes in New Orleans. Wonderful house - $140,000 and no heating or cooling expenses.

[JonnyTruant]

10:02 PM on 08/31/2010

They look great and for all the features and the size, they're a great catch at $150k. They're absolutely wonderful compared to the McMansions that went up everywhere else and cost twice that easily. I wish designs like these would catch on in more of the country. Energy efficient and built for the environment in which the people will be living. How much better can it get?

[Biendiosa]

08:27 PM on 08/31/2010

People in the 9th ward can afford $150K homes?
I don't consider myself poor and I can't afford that much mortgage payment.

[Agbar]

04:43 PM on 09/03/2010

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe insurance money?

[Biendiosa]

09:51 PM on 09/03/2010

Someone posted a link on here that led a site with all the particulars...it said most of the participating people end up mortgaging $75K,( because of grants that help with down payments) with payments about $700 monthly.
I hope it works for those people who qualify.
They need a chance to get on with their lives.

[MunyaBuddya]

07:22 PM on 08/31/2010

The homes are an absolutely beautiful addition to an area of New Orleans that I would definitely otherwise describe as looking post-apocalyptic. Speaking of which, they appear strong enough to withstand another apocalypse if the levee doesn't hold. When I have friends come to visit from other parts of the country I make sure to take them to see the 'Brad Pitt homes.'

[eric14]

08:06 PM on 08/31/2010

They look brilliant. Good to hear good news.

[ChipshotJJ]

06:07 PM on 08/31/2010

My friend is one who has designed some of the eco frienly homes. I mentioned to him, they should have turned the 9th Ward into the Venice of the deep south. Imagine what property values would have been for the folks who lost homes living on and in really neat places that like venice? Anyway, what Brad Pitt and his are doing is great.

[quiviran]

05:54 PM on 08/31/2010

$150K, 20% down, 30 year note. Payments $720. Add in escrow amount of $200 per month for insurance and property taxes (probably low). $920 per month for housing, conservative finances says no more than 35% of after tax income, so need income in the neighborhood of $35,000 per year. Louisiana's median income for 2008 was $39,563. About half of Louisiana can't afford the houses. Poor people must be able to live in older, more squalid conditions. New houses are not for them. Since all of the older, more squalid places are gone, so are the poor. Is this the outline of a plan? (Sorry for the sarcasm, it's just distressing sometimes)

[Phxgwen]

06:40 PM on 08/31/2010

If you go to Make It Right you will see that non of the returning homeowners have actually paid 150K for their homes. The average amount mortgaged has been 75K and MIR uses their own mortgage program to customize the payments to 30% of the homeowner's annual income with zero interest and the loans are forgivable. Many loans are being completely written off with the agreement that the homeowner will live in the house for the duration of 10 years.

In addition due to the solar panels and energy saving designs/appliances. Utility bills are slim to none. Pitt said as of last month all but one of the homes was producing more energy then they were using. Which is every helpful to low income families on a budget.

[JonnyTruant]

09:57 PM on 08/31/2010

We could definitely use more Brad Pitts in this world. Thanks for sharing your research. I'm liking these more and more. Time to donate to Make it Right.

[quiviran]

09:50 AM on 09/01/2010

Good for Brad Pitt. Bad on me for not doing my homework. I just happen to know who can afford a $150K house, not being one of them. Thanks for illuminating the real deal.