By Stacie N. Galang
PEABODY — This old house is not just getting a new lease on life, it's helping bring back a neighborhood.
Stripped down to its studs, the 129-year-old structure at 5 Park St. is undergoing a complete renovation by nonprofit Habitat for Humanity-North Shore.
"Obviously, we're trying to get it down to the bones of the building," Habitat President Donald Preston said.
The historic house was left uninhabitable nearly three years ago when a fire ripped through the back of the building, exposing nine apartments cobbled together in just over 5,000 square feet and displacing two dozen to three dozen people.
Owned by Nick Pereira, the property was foreclosed on in April 2008, as were two others he owned on Park Street.
Peter McGinn, who lives across the street, said the three properties had for years been a problem because of high occupancy and the parking problems and litter that resulted.
"That led to a real decline over the years," he said. "At the tail end, it was really deplorable."
The fire and the eventual foreclosure provided the chance for a rare turnaround, McGinn said.
At 5 Park St., Habitat will create two three-bedroom condos. The two additional properties at 12 and 14 Park St. will be transformed from 18 total apartments to one two-family home and another building with four condominiums.
"Really, the fire kind of set the chain of events in motion," McGinn said. "Unfortunately, it took something like that. ... Thank God nobody was hurt."
Transforming a neighborhood
Habitat plans to spend $1.5 million to rehabilitate the three properties.
The city chipped in $500,000 from its inclusionary zoning fund and another $200,000 in Community Preservation Act money. The balance of the funding will come from additional grants and fundraising.
"It's not only going to help eight families, it's going to transform a neighborhood," said Habitat Vice President Gary Cowles.
McGinn agrees that the project marks a turning point, but it's just the beginning.
He credited people like Historical Society President Bill Power for seeing the potential. Power, in turn, credited McGinn for pressing for change.
The project brought together neighbors, the city's historic groups, and city officials like former Community Development Director Jean Delios, Mayor Michael Bonfanti and Ward 2 Councilor Arthur Athas.
"It can serve as a model for neighborhood revitalization," Power said, adding to the character of the neighborhood and helping bring up property values.
"These are going to be top-quality, helping out eight families who would probably not be able to live in a beautiful neighborhood like this," he said.
McGinn's children — Anna, 17; Morris, 16; Daniel, 13; and Lydia, 9 — are the fifth generation in his family to call Park Street home.
His wife, Jeannette, is helping Habitat for Humanity's volunteer coordinator Paul Styczko organize volunteers in Peabody and is reaching out to local businesses and churches for donations of lunches or water for their Saturday work days. Daughter Anna and some of her classmates have also pitched in.
"I am enjoying working with Paul and the other volunteers," Jeannette McGinn said by e-mail. "The outpouring of support for this project is amazing, from high school and college students to church groups and professional organizations."
Their new neighbors will be able to share the downtown lifestyle the McGinns have come to love, including being able to walk almost everywhere.
"You create relationships with merchants and friendships," Jeannette McGinn said.
Off the scales
Tackling what is Habitat's biggest local project, volunteers have gone through 300 face masks and filled 16 30-yard dumpsters with appliances and belongings left behind by the former tenants.
"The amount of material that came out of here was incredible," Cowles said.
After stripping the place down to its core, the Habitat leaders are confident in what they have.
"The building's very sturdy," Preston said. "It's in great shape. We've got a great structure to build from."
The nonprofit's president said the building was a grand house in its day, and "it will be grand again."
Habitat is now searching for qualified families to apply for the eight condos. Approved families will need to spend 400 hours working on the rehabilitation. The application deadline is Jan. 8.
The nonprofit is also taking volunteer applications.
How to apply
To apply for housing or volunteer on the project, call 781-598-0310 or visit the nonprofit's Web site at www.habitatforhumanity-northshore.com.
Applicants for the housing must meet income guidelines, which range from $25,256 for one to $52,300 for a family of six. Selected families will need to volunteer 400 hours of time.
