‘BLITZ BUILD’
Habitat for Humanity gets good start but more work needed on Ithaca home
What was just a concrete slab last Friday quickly turned into a building with walls and roof following Clinton- Gratiot Habitat for Humanity’s “Blitz Build” this past weekend in Ithaca.
Volunteers converged on the Barber Street site to help construct what will be the new home of Curtis Davidson and Samantha Gipson and their two daughters.
Although much work was completed organizers had hoped to finish more..
“We got about half done of what we wanted,” Habitat Executive Director L. Quinn Lincoln-keon said. “The weather kind of played a role in that, and we ran into some complications so it didn’t go as fast as we thought it would.”
She was hoping to complete the roof and get the doors, windows and siding installed, but that portion of the project didn’t get done.
However, Lincoln-keon was pleased with the number of people who showed up to help.
“We had about 50 volunteers Saturday and 40 on Sunday,” she said. “And that doesn’t count the number of folks making meals and snacks.”
Lincoln-keon is now looking to finish the remainder of the exterior before November.
“That will all depend on the weather and volunteers,” she explained. “We still have many things to do but once we get it enclosed we will be on our way andwe canget the subcontractors in there to do the electrical, plumbing and drywall,”
When that work is completed volunteers will again be needed to paint, install cabinets and do other finishing work.
“We were hoping to get it done by Christmas,” Linocln-keon said. “But that’s not going to happen. We’re now shooting for February. It will
“We were hoping toget it done by Christmas. But that’s not going to happen. We’re now shooting for February. It will make a nice Valentine’s Day present (for the family).” — Habitat Executive Director L. Quinn Lincoln-keon
make a nice Valentine’sday present (for the family).”
Habitat doesn’t build the homes for free.
The new owners, which the agency calls “partners,” must have the ability to pay an affordable mortgage as well as taxes and insurance.
They are also required to put in “sweat equity” hours helping to build the home as well as volunteer for other Habitat projects in the future.
Lincoln- Quinn is still looking for additional help to get the home completed.
Anyone who would like to volunteer can call 989227-1771 and select option 4, or call 517-575-5814. Additional information and updates can be found on the Clinton- Gratiot Habitat for Humanity’s Facebook page.