JUST call the brain trust at Housing Opportunity Partnership a persistent bunch.
Why? Well, once they have a lot in their sights -- in this case a pair of lots located next to a former HOP-built home at 390 McGee St. in the city's West End -- they always get their lot (or, in this case, lots).
No matter how long it takes, as it turns out.
"We were after these lots for about two to three years," said Frank Zappia of the Zappia Realty Group, who works with HOP to acquire lots and to oversee the sale of the homes that are subsequently built on them. "It took awhile to get them, but the big thing is that we now own them. The stakes are up around the lot and we should be up and going with construction within the next couple of months once we get all the necessary paperwork done."
Zappia said the acquisition of the lots is going to promote revitalization of the community on two fronts.
"First, having homes here will eliminate dumping (of garbage) on the lots and will keep unwanted traffic from using them as an entranceway from Agnes Street to McGee and on through to Maryland Street," he said. "Second, the presence of two brand-new homes will spur others in the community to do work on their homes.
"The new homes will not only revitalize the look of the area, but will also restore community pride. People just naturally start improving their homes when they see new homes go up in the area."
HOP's president, Lori Thorsteinson, said building infill homes, as well as renovating existing homes when saving them makes sense, is having a resoundingly positive impact on the area.
"The addition of these two new infill homes -- they're extraordinary plans, excellent layouts, three bedrooms and quality finishes -- will bring us to about 86 or 88 homes that we've either built or renovated," she said. "Our goal is to hopefully get to the 100 mark in the next few years," she said.
"We're excited about doing more to turn around the area. When you see the pride in ownership that's starting to come through, you're motivated to do even more."
An example of HOP's handiwork is the two-storey, 1,100 square-foot three-bedroom home that stands in three-dimensional realty at 390 McGee. The owners -- immigrants to the city who once rented small, rundown apartments -- are thrilled to have a home of their own.
"It's a dream for people to own their own home," Zappia said. "They were thrilled to get this home. They were so excited to become homeowners. It gave them a chance to put roots down. Most importantly, they didn't have to rent anymore. They now own a home that they can establish roots in. That's what it's all about."
And these aren't spartan dwellings, either. Finishes include quality vinyl and carpet flooring and laminate countertops. Each home comes equipped with new appliances and is energy efficient with dual-pane windows and a high-efficiency furnace. With an efficient floor plan that features three bedrooms, a good-sized main living area on the main floor and a full basement, families can live in comfort and style that they'd never conceived of.
"Our goal is to make it affordable for people to own a new home," Zappia said. "The price for the new homes going up on the lots here will be about $160,000.
"Previous homes cost about $130,000, but construction and acquisition costs have gone up. Still, it's a really good deal. By mid-summer we're going to have three proud owners living side by side, with another two owners in behind on Agnes Street. It's all about establishing community through home ownership."
While Thorsteinson and Zappia are thrilled with the progress made in the West End through their efforts and those of groups in the Spence and Daniel McIntyre neighbourhoods, they acknowledge there's still much more work to do.
"Improvements have been made, but there's still plenty of room for more," Zappia said. "Sure, there's been a fair bit of revitalization and we're pleased to have played a part in that. But we've just scratched the surface. There's still a lot of work to do and we want to continue to be a part of it."
For more information on HOP's home-ownership program, visit www.hopwinnipeg.com or call 784-2352.
