THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 6, 1996 TAG: 9603050096
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MARK YOUNG, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
A vacant lot on 16th Street near the Oceanfront will soon provide new homes for two families. The two townhomes are the latest project of Habitat for Humanity in cooperation with a group of churches, called the Virginia Beach Covenant, and the Virginia Beach Vocational and Technical Center.
Ground was broken last Saturday following a Communion service that involved Episcopalians, Catholics, Presbyterians, Baptists and members of the United Church of Christ. A Catholic priest blessed the land prior to the beginning of construction. Volunteers had already been working to clear the property.
The project is the first for the covenant, which only began coming together as a group in October. Navy Cmdr. Tom Deppe is project coordinator and was instrumental in bringing the churches together and coordinated activities among the groups involved. The churches have raised $27,000 so far and have set a goal of $40,000 by May 1.
A major portion of the construction will be provided by building trades students at the vocational center under the sponsorship of Harvey Lindsay Commercial Real Estate and the Summs Group, real estate investors. The homes will be completed in June.
Unlike many Habitat projects the partners had to buy the land to be used, paying $16,000 for the property. Often land is donated to the cause. The scarcity of inexpensive land in the Beach has hindered projects up to now, said Habitat spokesperson Worth Remick. He has hopes that the growing cooperation among concerned groups within the city will result in more land, volunteers and resources being made available.
Remick and Deppe both lavished praise on the City Council, which acted to waive the $5,200 permit fees at the urging of Councilman Will Sessoms. This kind of cooperation between public and private organizations is a well-established pattern in Norfolk, said Remick, but represents a significant milestone in Virginia Beach.
The larger of the two homes, with three bedrooms, will be purchased by city employee Yvonne Owens and her three children. Owens' family has been on Habitat's waiting list for two years. The two-bedroom townhome will go to Patricia Collins, a grandmother unable to work due to severe back trouble.
In cooperation with the organization, Virginia Beach United Methodist Church will also begin construction on another home nearby in April. Habitat hopes to continue build two to four homes per year in Virginia Beach. MEMO: Those wishing more information about Habitat for Humanity may call the
South Hampton Roads office at 625-1281. Churches and others interested
in assisting or becoming a part of the Virginia Beach Covenant may
contact Cmdr. Tom Deppe at 481-6288.
ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
HOME BUILDERS
Churches belonging to the Virginia Beach Covenant, which is
building a Habitat for Humanity home, include All Saints Episcopal,
Ascension Catholic, Bayside Baptist, Bayside Christian (United
Church of Christ), Bayside Presbyterian, Good Samaritan Episcopal,
Eastern Shore Chapel, Emmanuel Episcopal, Saint Nicholas Catholic,
Star of the Sea Catholic.
by CNB