Habitat for Humanity eyes new offices, townhouses

Habitat for Humanity of Kent County will cement its purchase of the former Adelante High School this week, future site of the organization’s offices and possibly 20 new townhouses in the Grandville neighborhood.

Pam Doty-Nation, executive director for Habitat, said she hopes to partner with a private firm to produce as many as 7 market-rate townhouses on the property. The rest would fit the Habitat mold, constructed and sold as affordable housing for qualified families.

The land, at 425 Pleasant St. SW, will butt against the southern border of the proposed “mystery development” site along the Grand River – a potential billion dollar residential and entertainment project that has stirred controversy for months.

The Board of Education sold the former high school for $100,000, priced with aged roofing and asbestos deposits in mind. Doty-Nation said Habitat is looking for material and labor donations for the project, estimating each townhouse will take between four and six months to complete at a cost (including value for any donations) of nearly $2.3 million.

Source: Pam Doty-Nation, Habitat for Humanity of Kent County