Some Delawareans have a new home thanks to a local non-profit.
State and local officials joined the Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County to dedicate and hand over the keys to new homes on Vandever Avenue in Wilmington on Friday morning.
The nine, two-story townhomes are the final phase of the Mill Stone Brownfield Revitalization initiative, the largest construction project that the Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County has ever completed.
The project started in 2008 when the Habitat for Humanity bought the one acre site for development. Ground was officially broken in December of 2010.
In just under 3 years later, a once polluted lot used for textile manufacturing, phonograph production, an auto body shop, and Moyer Academy elementary school was turned into 21 environmentally friendly affordable housing units.
Habitat for Humanity of New Castle’s Board President Jeff Kline says the project would not have been completed if it weren’t for numerous collaborations with the state, financiers, and volunteers.
“It takes a village,” said Kline. “A village of financial supporters, of willing volunteers, and home owners who have the vision and foresight to see a neighborhood and community in this area.”
Governor Jack Markell (D-Delaware) praised the foresight of Habitat for Humanity’s vision as well as Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Secretary Colin O’Mara.
“Secretary O’Mara understands that when you remediate a Brownfield, the economic return is $17.50 for every dollar that is invested,” said Markell.
Both DNREC and the Delaware Housing authority provided seed money for the Brownfield cleanup and the construction of the new housing units.
“When you take that money and you leverage it with the additional funds, the volunteers, and the incredible efforts of those who are living here, this is what you end up with,” said Markell. “This in fact is why we serve.”
Each town home comes with appliances, climate control, and off street parking. ??The owners of the homes had to apply to Habitat for Humanity in order to be considered for the housing. Once chosen, the owners had to do a considerable amount of work on the homes known as the “Sweat Equity” model used by Habitat for Humanity.
