Land is scarce for Habitat homes

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.

Member Comments

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Roscoe
09-01-09 6:58 PM »Report Abuse	Armybrat - In Marietta or Washington County? Surely you jest!!! Now why would we go & start holding people accountable now?
armybrat
09-01-09 12:29 PM »Report Abuse	Property value increases when these old houses are torn down. Why should the owners of these torn down houses benefit from having someone else tear down these houses? If public funding is used to tear down these old houses, then the owners should have to reimburse the city for the cost of tearing the houses down or lose the property.
ObserverofJusticeSystem
09-01-09 12:07 PM »Report Abuse	There are cheap lots in Marietta. Whats the problem? Do you need a whole acre?
UncleGrunt
09-01-09 9:50 AM »Report Abuse	If houses are torn down with public funds, the owner should be offered a first opportunity to repay and retain possession of the land. If the owner cannot or refuses, the land should revert to the public domain and placed on the open market. If the law permits the City to create a preferred buyer status to Habitat, so be it. Additionally, architectural guidelines on the design and construction of a Habitat house should be in place to make sure adjacent properties are protected. With proper architecture, the cost of construction need not rise. Building a house right and integrating it into the neighborhood is a product of foresight and creative thinking, not money. There is no shortage of people ready and willing to build these houses. Watching them turn into homes when qualified families move in is a celebration of community and one that we should embrace and encourage. This is an example of where the government can simply create the environment for volunteers to do the rest.
Tessie
09-01-09 9:47 AM »Report Abuse	continued....I assume the aforementioned items from the condemned homes are being salvaged. And I assume they are being sold. If they are not then the city needs to be doing so. There's money to be made by selling those things, and it keeps them out of landfills. And don't forget about the old pine and oak floors, and lovely old slate, that many of those homes have. Please tell me the property owners aren't allowed to salvage these things and retain the money!
Tessie
09-01-09 9:39 AM »Report Abuse	The City of Marietta has taken a giant step forward by condemning and razing derelict properties. However, allowing property owners to retain ownership of the land after the building has been razed makes no sense. If the city, through grants or tax monies removes the building, then Marietta should own the property and sell it to Habitat at a reasonable price. Habitat shouldn't be so quick to dismiss existing homes that need rehabilitation. Many, many people rehabilitate homes and live quite comfortably. My question is who is stripping condemned homes of their architectural details, woodwork, doors, windows, copper pipes, old bathroom fixtures, etc., before demolition of the building? And who is getting the money for those items?
dillion
09-01-09 9:30 AM »Report Abuse	Why not use some of these odler homes or ones to be demolished and rebuild them as habitat houses. I've worked all my life and have never lived in a new home as I couldn't afford one.....

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