There is little question that officials with Washington County Habitat for Humanity would much rather start from scratch with a new house for a partner family rather than rehab an old house.
But land for building the agency's homes is scarce as hen's teeth.
"In Washington County, there is land out there, but not affordable land," said Dennis Thomas, executive director of Habitat. "The average price we've paid for an acre of land over the last 10 years is $7,000."
When the cost begins to climb to $10,000 or more for land, Habitat is cut out of the game.
The group is currently talking with the city of Marietta about the possibility of using land from some condemned in-town properties to build new houses.
"But what is happening is that there are grants to tear down the houses, but the owners still want to hang on to the property itself," Thomas said. "It's still a possibility."
A somewhat better option is the idea of rehabbing existing houses for Habitat families. It's been under discussion at recent board meetings.
"We do not necessarily have to start from scratch," said board member Larry Moegling.
Moegling is not a member of the site committee, which is actively seeking land.
"We've done 17 Habitat houses so far, and if we had land we could get others started," he said.
Jim Seevers, construction supervisor for Habitat, said one of the first houses the group placed a family in was rehabilitated. It isn't his preference, however.
"We also just took back a house (in Woodcrest Heights) and are rehabbing it now for another family," he said. "I like to build from scratch. When it's done, I know that it is done right."
Several newer Habitat houses that have been turned back to the organization (for lack of payments) have been rehabbed over the years. Some Marietta houses they are considering would likely take much more reconstruction.
"The idea has been tossed around," Thomas said. "The trouble is, you never know what you are going to find in a rehab. The cost can rise considerably depending on what you find behind the walls."
Currently land in or around Belpre or Little Hocking is being sought, Thomas said.
"We have a good donor base of volunteers and churches out that way, and the furthest west we have a Habitat house is Vincent," he said. "We'd like to find some land out there for a house."
Thomas finds it frustrating that for the Parkersburg affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, land doesn't seem to be an issue. The group currently has 13 lots ready to build, he said.
"There are a lot more city lots in Parkersburg than in Marietta," he said.
