Ann Street
Dover
First Thrivent Builds Home
A vacant lot at the corner of Ann Street and Greenwood Avenue in Dover will soon be the site of a modest and affordable handicap accessible home. Morris Habitat purchased the property in 2009 from private owners at below market value. Glenn Stubaus, AIA, of Molinari Stubaus Architects, donated his professional services to adapt the design used at the Collins Avenue project in Jefferson, providing three bedrooms, one bathroom and a basement. The home will sell for $150,000, with a 30-year deed restriction that allows modest equity upon resale, but mandates that the home be sold to a qualifying low-income family in accordance with state COAH guidelines.
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will contribute 65% of the funding through a national grant, and at least 10% of the construction costs will be raised by local Thrivent Financial chapters and Lutheran congregations. In addition, Morris Habitat has received HOME Investment Partnerships funding for site acquisition and improvement and a generous grant from New Jersey Natural Gas.
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Since 2005, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans members have volunteered alongside more than 2,000 families, working to help them realize the American dream of homeownership through Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity. Throughout the four-year alliance, more than 1,300 Thrivent Builds homes have been built in the U.S. through the Thrivent Builds Homes program and nearly 700 have been built around the world through the Thrivent Builds Worldwide program. In 2010, Morris County and Ocean County are the two New Jersey locations to receive grants. Thrivent Builds funding supports extra houses for Habitat for Humanity affiliates that are in a capacity building mode. Besides this Dover home, Morris Habitat has construction underway on six homes in Stanhope and Morristown and plans to start work in 2010 on twelve additional homes in Summit and Denville.
Local organization and planning for Morris Habitat’s first Thrivent Builds home is the responsibility of Carolyn Haraksin, Project Leader for Morris Habitat for Humanity, and David Bowles, Thrivent Builds Chapter Specialist. Lutheran congregations will be actively raising money while providing at least half of the volunteers for the work site. Licensed plumbers and electricians are especially needed. Volunteers who are not experts in construction will be trained at the work site. A positive attitude, willingness to learn and ability to work with others is all that is needed. See the “Upcoming Events” section of the home page to find the next monthly Volunteer Orientation meeting to attend.
Homeowner Elizabeth Villareal works in a hospital as an environmental aide. She currently lives in a neighborhood where it is unsafe for her children to play outside. Her daughter is fourteen years old and her son is eleven. All three have been putting in their sweat equity by working on the house and by giving speaking presentations.
After the groundbreaking ceremony in January 2010, work began on the footing. By March, volunteers were working at the site every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Interior finishing work was completed in the summer, including installation of hardwood flooring and ceramic tiles. Join us to dedicate our 42nd construction project on Thursday, September 30. Lunch, funded by New Jersey Natural Gas, will be served at noon, followed by a ceremony at 12:30 p.m. RSVP form »
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