Habitat for Humanity Considers New Site for Interfaith Community Build

The site for the six-unit Habitat for Humanity Interfaith Community Build project has changed, Lou Riccio, executive director of the Housing Authority, said at the Common Council meeting Wednesday night.

“We were unable to reach an agreement with the landowner,” Riccio said of the first proposed properties on the corner of Morris Avenue and Orchard Street.

The new site under consideration is at 39 Morris Avenue, just three doors away from the last property. This new location also brings the city's contribution from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund down to $530,000.

“This is just excellent news,” said Councilman Tom Getzendanner. “I think we found an even better property than we had before.”

The unit will look like a one-family unit from Morris Avenue, Riccio said, and will retain the three first floor handicap accessible units originally planned.

This new property will also allow for two additional parking spaces bringing the total to 12, and a larger playground area for children in the rear.

Riccio said ideally project organizers would like to relocate the existing structure because the home is in good condition. However, if this is not possible, Riccio said they will salvage everything they can from the home and it will be sold at the Habitat for Humanity Restore.

“We will make sure every inch of it is used properly,” he said.

Blair Schleicher Bravo, the executive director for Morris Habitat for Humanity, said the groundbreaking will most likely now be June 2010 with project completion still slated for November 2011.

The project application will likely go before the zoning board on Nov. 2.

Councilman Michael Vernotico continued to express his opposition to the project and even more specifically this new site, on a stretch of Morris Avenue that consists of “modest, single-family homes.”

“To plop down a 6 unit project in the middle of that I think goes against good planning in the community and quite frankly I’m appalled by it,” he said.