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Politics & Government

Habitat Holds Neighborhood Meeting

Habitat for Humanity and the Summit Affordable Housing Corporation held an informational meeting about the proposed condominium project at 39 Morris Ave.

Morris Habitat for Humanity and the Summit Affordable Housing Corporation held a neighborhood meeting Wednesday to discuss plans for six new homes to be built at 39 Morris Ave.

Approximately 30 residents attended the meeting at Wallace Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church on Broad Street to learn more about the city’s need for affordable housing and learn more details about the project.

The proposed site at 39 Morris Ave. will be a six-condominium structure that visually appears to be a two-family home from a bystander’s point of view on the street. There will be two floors, and each floor will have a three-bedroom and a two-bedroom dwelling. There will also be 12 on-site parking spots with handicap access.

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If all goes well, construction could start in June 2010.

Blair Bravo, the executive director of Morris Habitat for Humanity, stressed that applicants are people who want to live and work in Summit, but simply don’t have the means to buy a home. In Summit the median home price is $619,000, according to Bravo’s presentation, where one of these condominiums would price out at about $150,000.

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Many residents were concerned with the application process, wondering exactly who would be able to purchase one of these homes.

Bravo began by saying the eventual homeowners are mostly people who work in Summit or the neighboring area. Many are police officers, hospital employees or volunteers who have families that take up the majority of their income. Without these people, the city would simply stop running.

“Think about what you’re paying your employee,” she said. “Who’s going to work in your small business?”

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, put $1,000 down on the house, and have an income that rests between 30 to 80 percent of the city’s median income – which is between $26,000 and $70,000 for a family of four. Homeowners must then contribute at least 300 hours of “sweat equity” into the actual building process of the homes. They must also complete home ownership classes.

Bravo said that Habitat for Humanity was created to “help them (the families) stabilize and realize the American Dream.”

She was adamant that these people would not be abandoned once the process was complete. Habitat for Humanity actually holds the mortgages, so they have a financial stake in the owner’s ability to pay. She also said that if a homeowner decides to sell, they will not make any money in the sale. Any profits will go back to the Summit Housing Authority.

The Summit Developers Fund, Union County and other donations will pay for the majority of the project, which totals at $1.38 million. Local charities and faith-based organizations will also contribute money. All architectural and engineering work will be done without cost.

Residents questioned how the site was chosen, since there were several vacant properties and some houses in foreclosure.

Louis Riccio, the executive director of the Summit Affordable Housing Corporation, said that while there were several properties considered, 39 Morris was the only one that worked out.

“We looked at over 35 different properties in Summit,” he said.

The future of the house that currently sits on the property site is still in question. Riccio hopes to deconstruct it and sell the viable parts to ReStore, Habitat for Humanity’s resale shop. Another option is to relocate the house by physically lifting it off of its foundation, which in case the Madison Corporation would pay for, according to Riccio.

During the campaign for city council, Ward II winner Rich Madden questioned the traffic safety of the property – and mentioned that he planned on speaking with the directors of the project about it. Riccio said that he approached the police department, which said a traffic study was unnecessary.

People across town can help by volunteering time for building, donating money, host meetings and mentoring families. Bravo said that residents can even apply to sit on the applicant selection committee, in which case they would have a direct say in who lives in these homes.

Riccio stressed that in the end, the affordable housing projects are meant to help people create lives for themselves and their families.

“We don’t get much thanks,” he said. “But when you see these children’s faces… this is what it’s all about.”

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