Community 1st Development, a real estate company focused on urban residential redevelopment, neighborhood rehabilitation and affordable "green built" homes, was showcased last Thursday night, January 21 at 6 p.m. on Discovery's Planet Green show "Renovation Nation."

The featured home was selected for the show for being the first green, affordable home available in the city of Detroit and the first dwelling for Community 1st's Alter Commons neighborhood, located in the Jefferson Chalmers area of Detroit's far Eastside. In May of last year, Discovery's Planet Green came to Detroit to document the monumental event for its "Renovation Nation" television series, detailing all the efforts involved with constructing the home from structure to crane-lift construction to meeting green-built standards.

The efforts of Community 1st to revitalize the city of Detroit, and to do so with affordable green-built homes, captured the attention of producers for Discovery's Planet Green "Renovation Nation," which features unique efforts in green home building renovation or construction projects, early last year. The show featuring several Detroit-based efforts, including the Alter Commons home, was first aired on Thursday, January 21 at 6 p.m. The show will run again on Tuesday, February 16 at 6 p.m. and Wednesday, February 17 at 10 a.m.

"Eight months ago when the crews came out to film, it seemed like we still had so much work to do," said Mark Lewis, partner in Community 1st. "But we have accomplished a ton since Planet Green was in town, including helping eight families become owners of new green homes in the Alter Commons and Paradise Valley developments. We're also working with an additional 40 new homebuyers, assisting them throughout the process with our collaborators to become owners, many for the first time in their lives."

Community 1st also is developing a neighborhood on Detroit's near east side called Paradise Valley Estates which has four new green homes completed with 16 more to be constructed starting February 2010.

The company entered into a green home rehabilitation joint venture with Fisher Construction Company and Jewish Vocational Services known as Neighborhood Housing Solutions, which was recently chosen by the City of Hamtramck, Wayne County and MSHDA to complete the rehabilitation of homes in the City of Hamtramck. In addition, Community 1st works with the Vision Group to provide credit repair and restoration to customers to prepare them for the home ownership process.

The home profiled is a 1,404 square-foot, three bedroom, two bathroom ranch with attached two-car garage. The model, called the Ontario, is one of five different floor plans potential homeowners in the neighborhood may choose from, ranging from 1,300 to 2,100 square feet.

Community 1st homes meet Michigan Green Built specifications and are Energy Star certified. Features within the home can help residents save as much as 30 percent in the cost of their utility bills and include a Complete Energy Star Whirlpool appliance package, a high efficiency furnace and central air conditioning unit, enhanced wall and ceiling insulation, Energy Star light fixtures and exhaust fans and Pella windows, among other features.

Based in Farmington Hills, Mich., Community 1st's mission is to rebuild and revitalize area neighborhoods and provide a foundation for re-engergized communities. In partnership with HUD, MSHDA, local municipalities and non-profit agencies, the organization provides a range of vital resources necessary to facilitate home ownership for low to moderate income individuals. This includes significant grant, tax abatement and educational components.

Community 1st Development is a collaborative partnership between Lewis/Klein Properties and R&H Development Company. With a combined 50 years of experience, the two companies have helped more than 3,000 families move into their first homes. Contact: Mark Lewis at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and visit: www.Community1stDevelopment.com.