Habitat to build duplex at Waukesha YWCA site

Jan. 20, 2012
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By Laurel Walker of the Journal Sentinel

Jan. 20, 2012 0

Waukesha - Habitat for Humanity of Waukesha County will be building a second duplex in the neighborhood stabilization project called Dunbar Oaks on West Ave., formerly the site of the Waukesha YWCA.

The city's Redevelopment Authority this week awarded a lot to the agency after a church that had planned to develop the lot, New Beginnings, backed out.

Dunbar Oaks is a two-acre development of affordable homes started in 2009 through cooperation between the city and county of Waukesha and with the help of a federal $900,000 neighborhood stabilization grant. Besides the Habitat duplex, one other home by Tim O'Brien Homes is standing and a second one is about to be started. The builder's homes will be certified by the National Association of Home Builders as "green" with energy-conserving technology.

Habitat for Humanity is nearing completion of the first duplex, and two families are expected to move in this spring. The agency has begun its search for owners of the next duplex.

Mary Jo Gdovin, Habitat board member, said potential owners must meet strict qualifications and pass a screening process. Those interested can apply to Habitat for Humanity of Waukesha County to become the next owners of the planned duplex units at the agency's website, at www.hfhwaukesha.org/">www.hfhwaukesha.org, where qualifications are explained.

In addition, potential volunteers who want to help build the next Habitat home can sign up on the same website.

About Laurel Walker
Laurel Walker covered local, school and county government for 20 years -- the last half of that at the Milwaukee Journal and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel -- before she was named Waukesha County columnist in 1997. Today she writes about the people, places and events around metropolitan Milwaukee with a broad suburban focus. She was the youngest of nine children raised on a central Wisconsin farm before leaving the nest for journalism studies at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and a masters degree at the University of Oregon. She has spent the last half of her life in Waukesha County, where she and her husband raised two sons. Though she has a fondness for life in Waukesha, she eagerly partakes in the culture of the big city to the east and the recreation of the forests to the west. With sons in the arts, she has a special fondness for symphonic music concerts and art museums. She finds peace in a good book at a Northwoods getaway weekend, adventure in family visits to the east and west coasts, and satisfaction in a column well-written that reaches readers.
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