On-and-off Habitat project back on

Last week, John Hawthorne got a call from Highlands County Administrator Michael Wright.

"He was asking if the funding was still available for the Ridgeview Project," said Hawthorne, interim executive director at Habitat for Humanity.

History

Although the county had asked Habitat in June 2008 to build 20 houses at 1400 Martin Luther King Ave., by December 2009, Commissioner Jeff Carlson had taken the place of Andrew Jackson.

Three months ago, Hawthorne and then-executive director Mike Jacobson asked the county for $500,000 to pay for the initial phase. Commissioners Don Bates and Edgar Stokes voted for the motion; Carlson and Barbara Stewart voted against it. Lacking a majority, the motion failed.

Another effect of that 2-2 vote was that the county would have to return an additional $500,000 hurricane grant for affordable housing, plus $75,000 in administrative fees. It had used the grant to buy the land on Martin Luther King.

A second effect: January, Jacobson laid off three Habitat workers, then resigned himself.

On again

However, on March 16, the item will be back on the commission agenda, Hawthorne said.

"It's great news," said Chip Boring, chairman of the Habitat board. He has spoken with Commissioner Guy Maxcy, who was absent when the 2-2 vote was taken. Although he wouldn't reveal how he will vote Tuesday on the project, Maxcy talked enthusiastically.

"The dynamics have changed," Maxcy said. Two months ago, he doubted whether Habitat could finance the project. "I'm convinced that they (can) now."

Hawthorne is working on the financing now. After Jacobson informed federal and state authorities that about $1 million in grants would not be used, Hawthorne must return to them and at least one local bank to reestablish the grants and loans.

As it turns out, the deadline for the $7,000 per home (a total of $413,000) federal grant has expired. Boring said Habitat is trying under a second program. If that's possible, Habitat must build 20 homes by the June 30, 2011 deadline.

"Our intent, if this is supported by the county commission, is to put all 59 back into play," Hawthorne said. There are 59 lots on the site, and Habitat has a waiting list for all of them.

If the commission does approve, Hawthorne must immediately apply for the permits, which must be in place by June 1.

Habitat will use structural insulated panels for the walls, Hawthorne said. Using the same method, Habitat put walls and a roof on an Avon Park house in 2.5 days, he said.

"We know we can build the houses," he said.