Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

Work expected to continue through autumn

By JASON MCGREW-KING
Editor
Lakeshore Weekly News

September 19, 2006

The home construction site on Gleason Lake Road is abuzz with activity.  While it may look like any other home site in the western suburbs, the project represents a milestone.  It’s the first project in Wayzata to involve Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity.

Crews of volunteers are building two structures on the property, which is located on a sloping site just north of where the Highway 12 frontage road intersects Gleason Lake Road.  Each building will contain two residential units – one a four-bedroom and the other a three-bedroom.

One of the buildings will be owned by Interfaith Outreach and Community Partners (IOCP), the Wayzata non-profit that operates a food shelf and emergency assistance network.

IOCP will operate its building as rental housing in order to provide affordable rental housing to its clients. Habitat for Humanity is selling the two units in the other building. 

On Sept. 14, Tony Beckstrom, who is managing the construction of both homes for Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, expressed satisfaction with the present pace. “Getting the foundation in was a bear,” he said. “Now that we’re out of the ground, we’re flying.”

He explained that the contours of the property presented challenges.  The land slopes toward Gleason Lake Road.  A glance at the berm at the rear of the site makes it clear substantial earthwork was needed before foundations could be poured.

Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity hired professionals to excavate the site and pour the concrete foundations. While Beckstrom said professionals will install the plumbing and wiring, volunteers perform much of the other work. Last week, the house IOCP will own had much of the first floor installed. On both houses, volunteers were erecting the wood frames that will form the structure of the walls.

Organizations may register with Habitat for Humanity to help out at the site.  Participants on Sept. 14 included the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors and Anchor Bank of Wayzata.

Donnie Brown, executive director of the Realtors Association, said that up to 25 people from her organization helped out each day last week.

She said representatives from three real estate companies were taking part that day.  “It’s fun to get them out of their normal environment,” she said.

Brown added, “I don’t think they knew it was going to be this much work.  I think it’s a good experience for them.”

Anchor Bank of Wayzata was also represented at the job site on Sept. 14.  Mark Lauffenburger, from Anchor Bank, said 11 of 14 different bank employees helped out each day.

Several participants were quick to point out their lack of construction experience.  But Beckstrom offered positive reinforcement, such as when one Anchor Bank volunteer said she and another woman had fallen in the mud. “Sandi, don’t sell yourself short,” he said. “You’re doing fine.”

Beckstrom, who works for Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, said he views his position as a teaching job. “It’s fun,” Beckstrom said. “Everybody comes with the right intentions.”

In addition to the volunteers, the owner-occupied Habitat for Humanity building also is benefiting from work by its future owners.  Beckstrom said one of Habitat for Humanity’s conditions of its sale is that the owners help out with their home project.

Mohamad Kahie, the owner of one of the side-by-side units, said he presently lives in an apartment in South Minneapolis with his wife and their four children. Kahie works at a printing company in Maple Grove.

Beckstrom said Kahie has been helping with the framing of the house and installation of drainage tiles. “This has been a fun assignment,” Beckstrom said. “It’ll be really pretty when it’s done.”

Work on the houses is expected to continue into December, according to IOCP’s Jill Kohler.