Media Coverage

Habitat land deal nearly set

By Patricia Bertuccio
Thursday, December 21, 2006 - Updated: 05:03 AM EST

ACTON — The property bid for the town’s first Habitat for Humanity home is in the final stages of review.

Town officials have selected the Acton Habitat for Humanity affiliate’s proposal, the only bid submitted for town-owned land on River Street that voters approved for affordable housing last spring. Town lawyers are reviewing the details of the Request for Proposal document. If all goes according plan, Habitat will take over ownership of the 0.6-acre parcel and building will commence this spring, following a final fund-raising push.

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that uses volunteer work to construct houses for people who meet local requirements for low-income status. The regional Habitat group, based in Fitchburg, and members of the Acton local project group submitted the plan last October to build a single family home at 74 River St. The local group has already selected a Leominster family to occupy the future house.

"We’re really excited," said Bill Schumacher, the co-chairman of the Acton Habitat organization. "I look forward to doing the specific planning and getting on with that so the building can take shape."

Residents in Acton formed the town’s Habitat affiliate in spring 2005. Schumacher said Habitat officials estimated it would take at least two years for the group to secure a parcel.

"We had a vision of getting it done more quickly, but we’re not disappointed by the time it’s taken," Schumacher said.

Megan Foley, the regional executive director of Habitat for Humanity – North Central Massachusetts, said the group should start construction following the winter season.

"We look forward to a spring start for the Habitat house," Foley said. "By this time next year, we will have another Habitat family home for the holidays."

Habitat officials set the price for the parcel at $1 because they will take a loss of around $8,000 in order to comply with affordable housing restrictions. The estimated cost of developing the site is $183,300 and house can be sold for no more than $173,300, according to the group’s proposal. Because the application is still being reviewed by legal advisors, the money exchange is subject to review.

The timeline established in the group’s plan sets the groundbreaking date in May 2007. Schumacher said it usually takes about six to eight months to finish a home. The family, the de Souzas of Leominster, should be able to move into the home by next December.

The Habitat group selects a family through an application process. Members of the Habitat Family Selection Committee interview a candidate in a series of rounds and contact references. The local committee chose the de Souzas and introduced them at a meet-and-greet at the Acton Congregation Church on Concord Road last September.

The de Souzas moved from Brazil to Massachusetts three years ago. Marcos and Silva de Souza have three children — Miriã, 16, Isaac, 11, and Rebecca, 13.

Habitat homes are built primarily with donated and grant money. But the de Souzas will have to pay to buy the home from the organization. They will receive a no interest loan through the Habitat organization.

Schumacher and members of the Acton Habitat group have already raised almost $25,000 to pay for building costs and materials. The organization received $35,000 in Community Preservation Act money at last year’s Town Meeting. The Steinburg-Lalli Foundation will match funds raised up to $30,000.

With the River Street property within Habitat’s grasp, Schumacher said the group will have to increase its fund-raising efforts and solicit payments in-kind from local businesses and professionals to help with the construction. The site plan design will also be in the works. In terms of manpower, the co-chairman said the group has plenty.

"The good news is people have contacted us and are interested in helping with the build," he said. "I don’t think there will be a shortage of volunteers."

The de Souza family is also required to do 500 hours of "sweat equity," or physical help with the actual construction of the dwelling.

Selectman Andy Magee a Habitat home a great addition to the town and allows a family that may not have been able afford Acton to live here.

"We’ve got a town where people are being squeezed out by high prices, taxes and a good school system," he said. "This offers the best of both worlds."

The project also fosters the spirit of volunteerism, which Magee said is a positive thing for the community.

"It contributes to the mentality we obviously want to try to support, so we’re very excited about that," Magee said.

The house will count toward the town’s state-mandated 10 percent target of affordable homes. With the Woodlands at Laurel Hill, a North Acton 40B housing development with more than 400 planned residences, Acton has 6 percent of its housing in this category

To volunteer or join the Acton Local Project for Habitat for Humanity, contact the local co-chairmen Bill and Heidi Schumacher at 978-264-4263.