| Goodrich Avenue homes preserve neighborhood character |
|
|
|
|
Restoration of the homes, built between 1870 and 1900, will not only preserve existing housing stock but also help one of St. Paul’s oldest and most architecturally significant neighborhoods retain its character. “Habitat is delighted to play a role in preserving these beautiful old houses, while creating opportunities for affordable homeownership,” said Al Raymond, Senior Director of Programs and Services. The two twin-homes and three single-family units will be larger than average Habitat homes—1,800 to 1,900 square feet, with four and five bedrooms—allowing comfortable living space for larger families. The project’s location offers ample public transportation and access to downtown jobs, making the units even more affordable and practical. Raymond believes that preservation of existing workforce housing is critical to maintaining mixed-income communities and reducing displacement of low- and moderate-income residents. The project is important to Habitat for several reasons. “Experience has shown that homeownership is a primary source of neighborhood stability,” Raymond says. “Restoring existing homes is an effective way to help preserve the physical and cultural integrity of neighborhoods.” The Goodrich properties—once part of an18-unit rental housing project— were most recently owned by Goodrich Limited Partnership and the West Seventh/Fort Road Federation. Habitat acquired their five properties from the Partnership and City of St. Paul last fall. The Federation will develop the remaining units for sale at market rates. Contributed by Eric Wise |
Springtime signals the start of Twin Cities Habitat’s busy construction season with a flurry of groundbreaking activity and, this year, with the rehabilitation of five historic homes along tree-lined Goodrich Avenue in the West Seventh Street area of St. Paul. 
