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Ceremony Marks Groundbreaking for New Habitat Community
Celebrating its 35th year in 2011, Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio is about to break ground on its newest neighborhood, Coleman Ridge, in a ceremony at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 24.
Located near the corner of Old Pearsall Road and Loop 410, near San Antonio’s new Trader’s Village, this land has qualities that make it a great choice for the next Habitat neighborhood, organization officials say.
Councilman Philip Cortez will join HFHSA in the celebration. The official groundbreaking ceremony will be held at Miller’s Pond Park and Pavilion, 6175 Old Pearsall Rd, which is near the future community.
“Coleman Ridge is in a great location for our families to thrive. The land is immediately adjacent to an elementary school that will open this August. And, it is within a few miles of one of the largest community colleges in San Antonio, Palo Alto College,” said HFHSA President and CEO Dennis L. Bechhold. “It is also very accessible to retail, bus lines and major highways and thoroughfares.”
This new Habitat development will eventually benefit 185 very low-income families in San Antonio. Construction on homes in the community will begin in August.
The groundbreaking comes after a long, exhaustive search for land for the non-profit builder to locate its next community on.
“We look for land that is a good fit for Habitat, that is in a good location for our families and that will help us keep our homes affordable for those who enter our program,” Bechhold explained. “This couldn’t have come at a better time as we are near completion of our current community.”
HFHSA will complete construction in its current Palo Alto neighborhood in June. Construction began on the 48-acre subdivision in 2005 and when complete, will have 285 simple, decent and affordable homes built in partnership with families in need, Bechhold explained. To date, the organization has built 700 homes in San Antonio.
“We are very proud of this accomplishment, and very thankful to the literally thousands of people who have lent us their time and given of their money to help us continue our mission of eliminating poverty housing in our city. We now look forward to beginning our new neighborhood,” he said.
On the day of the ground breaking, shuttle busses will make quick trips from the park to the future site for those who would like to see it. Light refreshments will be served by Don Strange of Texas. Please RSVP to the event by calling Shelly at 210-223-5203.
About Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio
Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio is an ecumenical, Christian organization working with hardworking families in need to build simple, decent and affordable homes without interest or profit. Habitat families are required to put in a minimum of 300 hours of “sweat equity,” meaning they help build their own home, the homes of their neighbors and they attend home ownership education classes. In turn, they purchase their homes on a 0% interest, 20-year mortgage. Their payments average about $400 a month, or about half the fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment in the city. Relying on volunteer labor and donated funds to build homes, HFHSA serves families who earn 20-60% of the area median income and is the only organization in San Antonio to offer homeownership as an option to families at this income level. 55 homes are planned for 2011, 24 of those will be located in Coleman Ridge.
The organization was founded in 1976 by a concerned citizen and pastor’s wife, Faith Lytle. Gathered around her kitchen table with a group of committed friends, the group organized HFHSA with a mission of eliminating substandard housing in San Antonio. Construction of the first Habitat for Humanity house built in the United States was begun that year on a small parcel of land on Hidalgo Street on San Antonio’s near west side.
Distinguished as the first U.S. partner affiliate in the United States, HFHSA has grown to become the 4th largest producer of new Habitat homes in the country, and the largest in Texas. HFHSA is known as one of the most efficient Habitat affiliates with 100% of every donated dollar going toward its building program.