Habitat for Humanity plans green housing
Posted on Saturday, November 11, 2006
Three charitable agencies are working together to figure out which will be located where on a parcel of city property they will be sharing in years to come.
Seven Hills Homeless Center, Sage House and Habitat for Humanity all have plans for sections of some 18 acres of city-owned land, which lies south of Huntsville Road between Morningside Drive and Erika Road.
The Fayetteville City Council this week approved the sale of about eight acres of that land to Habitat Humanity to build a low-impact, green housing development.
“ We know we will have eight acres, just not which eight it will be, ” said Patsy Brewer, executive director of Habitat for Humanity.
Seven Hills Homeless Center and Sage House both already have 99-year leases with the city for portions of the plot.
The three agencies have agreed “ to move forward with common planning” of the remainder of property outside of the Seven Hills lease area, according to a document presented to the City Council Tuesday.
“ Basically, we all want the same thing, ” said Jim Clemons, director of Seven Hills Homeless Center. “ We’re doing this because we’re trying to help people. ” The result of that common planning could be that Sage House will be “ relocated” within the plot for second time since the agency has been slated to occupy part of the property. Sage House will be a transitional housing facility for single-parent families, providing supportive housing services for 12-18 months to victims of domestic violence.
At one time, Sage House’s lease with the city was for the land adjacent to Huntsville Road. It’s board agreed to accept a different adjoining piece of property because Seven Hills had funding and was ready to move forward. “ It just made sense for us to move aside because we were not ready to break ground, ” said Nancy Bolin, Sage House board president. But now, Sage House may change its parcel again so that Habitat for Humanity can be sited adjacent to the Seven Hills project. “ Once again, it’s a situation where we are closer to the road, ” Bolin said. “ We’re right next to Seven Hills and we’re not ready to break ground, so what would happen is Habitat would have to put in a longer stretch of road to connect to where Seven Hills Road ends. ” “ We want to do everything we can do to work together to insure all of our projects benefit the populations we work with, ” she said. Bolin will take the idea of relocating within the parcel to the Sage House board so its members can consider a resolution to work with the city. The Seven Hills transitional housing project will use its portion of the site to serve homeless individuals and families; it also will have apartments for individuals with disabilities.
Walls are going up, Clemons said, and he anticipates occupants will start moving into the buildings in mid-March.
Habitat for Humanity works to create permanent, occupant-owned houses rather than transitional housing.
“ Different people want to do different things on the land, ” said Brewer. “ We just thought if we could all get together and decide what would benefit us each the most, that’s what we’re heading for. ”
Unlike the other two agencies, Habitat for Humanity will buy its portion of land from the city at $ 19, 000 an acre for a total of $ 152, 000.
“ We can’t build on something we don’t own because we have to be able to sell it to the family, ” Brewer said. “ The family does buy it. People keep thinking that we build them and give them away. We don’t. They have a mortgage and pay taxes, just like everyone else who owns a home. ”
Habitat for Humanity will work with the University of Arkansas Community Design Center to design its neighborhood.
Brewer said they have 180 days to close the real-estate transaction with the city, which gives time for the three agencies to coordinate.
“ Now that Habitat wants to do a planned neighborhood, we want to be a part of that neighborhood, ” said Bolin. “ So that’s the opportunity, to be part of their planning process and help make it look more unified. ” Organizations plan housing projects for city-owned plot
Transitional housing projects by Seven Hills Homeless Center and Sage House and a neighborhood project by Habitat for Humanity will all be situated on parts of an 18-acre parcel of land on Huntsville Road, which is owned by the city of Fayetteville.
• Seven Hills Homeless Center’s transitional housing project is currently under construction. According to the Seven Hills Web site, there will be three apartments for families with children, 17 rooms for single individuals, and eight efficiency apartments for individuals with disabilities. Residents will live in four buildings totaling approximately 11, 600 square feet. The project is located on 3. 5 acres of land leased at no charge from the city of Fayetteville.
• Sage House’s board of directors plans a transitional-housing facility for single-parent families. They anticipate that the first phase will comprise a community building and a 16-unit apartment building, with hopes to eventually add a second apartment building for a total of 32 units. They have a 99-year lease with the city for about two acres and are under agreement with the city to break ground by 2009.
• Habitat for Humanity plans to create an ecological, hydrological model of a green, low-impact housing development for 20-30 families. They will purchase eight acres from the city, build homes with volunteer labor and sell the homes to families who meet certain criteria, including helping to build the house.
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