The sun is shining as ground is broken at 508 Fifth Ave., where a home will be built in a partnership between Habitat for Humanity and the Pennsylvania College of Technology.
The country is the site of the original location of the 5th Avenue Tavern, which was closed after many complaints that resulted in the April 2015 shooting that took the life of Yusef Ali Wilson, from Philadelphia.
The site was closed shortly thereafter, and the sale of the property to Penn College was completed on Oct. 30. 2015.
“This is a very special project with Penn College,” said Bob Robinson, Executive Director of The Greater Lycoming Habitat for Humanity.
“We currently have 49 people looking for a home, which starts to show what the housing crisis is like here in the US right now,” he said.
Housing through Habitat For Humanity is low-income, available to those who make up the 80% of the median income who have never owned a home before, Robinson explained.
“We are excited to be at this foundation for Habitat’s latest home,” said Ellyn Lester, assistant curator of architecture and construction sciences, adding that the project has been in the works for more than two years.
“We have had a relationship with Habitat for Humanity for years. But one of the biggest challenges we’ve had is that we have to meet the so-called learning outcomes in all our courses,” he explained.
“And when you have a house that you volunteer at, and the next day someone else volunteers, that can be very problematic for the faculty, because you can’t be sure if the student is How will he be working or studying that day? he continued.
Then, more than two years ago, the college and Habitat For Humanity came to a meeting of the minds that the proposed project could include a house completely designed and built by the students.
“It happened that Penn College had this property that we had and that we were interested in donating it to Habitat for Humanity. So I took that opportunity to say, ‘hey, let’s get this together and make this happen,’ and it went from there. he said.
“This is the site of an old barn that was purchased and donated by the college to Habitat For Humanity,” Dr. Michael Reed, President of Penn College said, call it a “win” situation.
“The project puts city property back on the tax rolls, helps students apply their newly acquired skills to real-world projects and provides a new home for a family that meets the eligibility criteria of habitat,” he said.
An additional $100,000 in grant money was received by the Lycoming County Commissioners through America’s Rescue Plan, which will help cover the cost of construction materials, Reed said.
“This shows how neighborhoods can benefit when everyone works together to achieve a common goal,” Reed said, referring to the Penn College community as “The makers of tomorrow.”
“This project exemplifies our collective commitment to making Williamsport a better place,” Mayor Derek Slaughter said.
“I want to express my heartfelt appreciation for everyone’s collaborative efforts to bring this project to life, while providing real-world experiences for our Penn College students,” The mayor said, and called “a big win for all involved.”
“We don’t just build a house, we create a home; a home full of hope, stability and the promise of a bright future for a deserving family,” he said.
“This new home will provide the family with safe and affordable housing, while fostering a sense of belonging and belonging,” The pain said.
This project will also have a strong impact on the community as a whole by leading to an increase in property tax revenue, which will be included in additional resources for schools, public services and other infrastructure.
“Your efforts remind us that when we come together, we can achieve amazing things,” Slaughter said, thanking everyone who contributed to the project’s completion.
“We are all committed to supporting this project and others like it. Together, we can continue to build a stronger, more vibrant Williamsport, one home at a time,” he said.
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