Under a warm October sun in one of Missoula's oldest neighborhoods, a group of North and West side residents gathered at a First Street construction site, rolled up their sleeves and gave their weekend to build an affordable community.
HomeWORD, a nonprofit community development organization in Missoula, designed the $1.8 million project with input from North Side residents, architects and businesses. HomeWORD is the housing development arm of Women's Opportunity and Resource Development.
In addition to the inexpensive housing, the project was created with self-employed residents in mind and includes a studio/shop for artists or other home-based businesses, and on-site laundry facilities.
That's what neighbors were concentrating their efforts on building Sunday morning as they sawed boards and hammered framework into place.
"It's something to do on a weekend in the fall," said Joe Nickell, 34, who recently bought a house near Lowell Elementary School near the Scott Street bridge. He's become more involved in his community since he made that purchase, he said. He also rented in the area for a long time and is well aware of Missoula's tight affordable housing market.
Nickell had seen the five vacant lots on North First Street sit empty for many years and always thought it ridiculous because the site had so much potential. He said he is glad to see this type of project developed on it.
He lent a hand on Sunday, he said, because "things like this don't get done without community support."
Erin Thompson, project coordinator and an AmeriCorps volunteer, said the development, constructed on the site of the old Gold Dust Hotel built in 1890, will keep in spirit of that historic structure.
The building construction also incorporates energy-efficient elements that include a set of solar panels, artful awnings and in-slab radiant heat. On its rooftop is a large, open and easily accessible area for residents to garden and grow fresh vegetables, Thompson said.
The design includes a public art component, with 1 percent of the construction budget earmarked to commission local artwork that will be displayed and illuminated on a new sidewalk area just outside the building, she said. Project coordinators hope the art element will enhance the project's community appeal.
The Saturday and Sunday grass-roots building effort was organized to bring neighbors together and allow residents a chance to learn more about the project.
"This is high-density in-fill but it's also high quality," Thompson said.
The project was funded through a combination of public and private funds and a low-interest loan from the Montana Board of Housing revolving loan account. Thompson expects the project to be completed by late January.
The apartments, mostly one- and two-bedroom and some three-bedrooms, will rent for $200 to $700 a month, determined using a sliding scale based on the renter's income. People who earn up to 50 percent of the area median income qualify for one of the units. For a one-person household, the cutoff is an annual income of $15,800. For a two-person household, it is $18,100.
Interested applicants can sign up at the WORD office, 127 N. Higgins Ave.
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)