PEABODY — Habitat for Humanity of the North Shore recently began its most ambitious project to date.
"It is daunting," said Donald Preston, president of Habitat's local branch. "But you just have to bite it off in pieces."
Habitat is undertaking historically sensitive renovations of 5 and 12 Park St. that will create two condominiums at each location. Early last month, the home at 14 Park St., a condemned structure, was demolished to make way for a building with four condominiums.
The immediate focus for Habitat is 5 Park St., Preston said. A small garage and a rear portion of the structure will have to be removed before interior demolition and renovation can begin, probably in mid-October. The nine-unit building, which dates back to about 1880, will be transformed to accommodate two three-bedroom condos.
The council last week unanimously approved a special permit that Habitat needed to begin the project. The work is expected to take about a year, according to Preston. Then, construction of 12 and 14 Park St. will be tackled simultaneously.
Habitat, an international organization aimed at housing families in need, has been building homes on the North Shore since 1985. Its 15th home is currently under construction in Lynn.
The group relies on donated materials and volunteer labor. The families selected to purchase the homes have to put in at least 400 hours of "sweat equity." In exchange, Habitat gives them a no-interest mortgage.
Families interested in the Peabody properties can begin the application process by visiting Habitat's Web site — www.habitatforhumanity-northshore.com — later this month, Preston said. The city, as a condition of a half-million-dollar forgivable loan it provided Habitat, is requiring that the majority of homeowners come from Peabody.
The estimated cost to revive the Park Street properties is $1.5 million. Habitat has so far raised more than $800,000, which includes $700,000 contributed by the city.
Peabody used $500,000 of the $1.2 million it received from the developer of the Highlands at Dearborn apartment complex. The payment allowed the developer to avoid putting affordable housing in its 446-apartment development. Peabody also gave Habitat $200,000 in Community Preservation Act money. The balance of the funding will come from additional grants and fundraising.
"It helps that we've had such rock-solid support from the city of Peabody," Preston said. Neighbors also expressed their support at a recent community meeting, he said.
The eight new homes will be added to the city's affordable-housing inventory. The more homes the city can get counted as affordable by the state, the less susceptible it is to so-called 40B development. The 40B refers to a state law that allows a developer to skirt most local zoning rules if a portion of a development is set aside for affordable homes.
When Habitat's work is done, a blighted downtown neighborhood will be reborn.
"This is going to be a pretty dramatic makeover," Preston said.
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Raw Video: Giants Celebrate Another Super Bowl
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Greek Leaders Seek Deal As Bankruptcy Looms
Bernanke: Recovery Depends on Consumer Spending
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Eastwood in Super Bowl Ad 'Compassionate'
Stranded Fishermen Rescued From Bay of Green Bay
Analyst: Outside Troops Won't Intervene in Syria
Police: Father Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time
US, UK Pressure on Syria; More Homs Violence
Raw Video: Mass Killer Wants Medal, Freedom
Court Strips Contador of Tour De France Title
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
Romney Latest Poll to Join Let-me-explain Club
