Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville is thrilled to announce the dedication of six homes on Elliot Avenue this Saturday, January 16th at 10:30am. Newly appointed Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer will join Partner Families, Habitat leadership, and local volunteers at the ceremony, making remarks on behalf of the City to welcome these families to their new homes.
The neighborhood, Burnet Commons III: The Park is the first major housing initiative in the Strategic Investment Area (SIA) south of Downtown. Habitat families are the first of many families who will move into this very special neighborhood lining Elliot Avenue in the heart of Charlottesville.
A unique private-public partnership, The Park is a collaborative effort among Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville, Southern Development Homes and the City of Charlottesville. When complete, the new neighborhood will transform a long-time City dumping ground into a pedestrian-oriented, mixed-income neighborhood built around a central park. In total, 18 Habitat families and 28 market-rate purchasers will call The Park home.
New Habitat homeowner, Johanna Velasquez, recently moved into the Pope Francis House at The Park, which was made possible by a $50,000 anonymous donation made in honor of Pope Francis.
“Owning my own home is a lifelong dream,” said Johanna. “We built it together, and it has united us as a family even more.”
Located a five minute walk from the Downtown Mall and offering some of the best views in the City, The Park will appeal to a wide range of people looking for comfortable, neighborly, walkable and energy efficient urban living. Southern Development and Habitat anticipate the neighborhood to be fully built out within a couple of years.
“The Woods is a model for all new communities,” said Dan Rosensweig, Habitat President and CEO. ”When we break down barriers and create places where people’s differences are minimal compared to their sense of common purpose and destiny, we begin to truly achieve the America of our dreams.”
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