Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Habitat for Humanity of Erie bids for 221 Locust; says it would build low-interest homes
Summary
Dr. Rochai Vermaat of Habitat for Humanity of Erie presented a proposal for 221 Locust Avenue and described plans to build two to three homes for low- and moderate-income buyers; Habitat also requested possible demolition funding for a separate parcel at 2414 Linwood Avenue.
Dr. Rochai Vermaat, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Erie, told the Erie Land Bank board that Habitat submitted a bid for 221 Locust Avenue and would seek to build owner-occupied homes for low- and moderate-income families.
“We sell the house at 0% interest over 25 years to families,” Vermaat said, describing Habitat’s model. He said Habitat has built 73 new houses in the city since 1991, with additional projects in neighboring communities, and that the Locust parcel offers an opportunity to return a vacant lot to owner-occupied housing.
Vermaat said the parcel has roughly 120 feet of frontage and, while it currently is combined from original smaller lots, Habitat would seek city approval to divide it and said it could build two to three houses if the city permits subdivision. He told the board that, if awarded the lot and able to start construction this year, Habitat could build in October and finish in about five months, or else break ground in April 2026 and finish in three to four months.
Board members asked about neighborhood engagement and parcel topography. Aaron (staff) said Habitat had spoken with neighbors and that detailed site-engineering questions would be addressed through the city’s zoning and planning process. Vermaat said the organization had discussed the parcel with a local realtor and would undertake any necessary earth-moving with city permission.
Separately, Habitat sought assistance with demolition on a different property it owns at 2414 Linwood Avenue; staff estimated demolition for that modest structure could run about $4,000. Staff recommended soliciting bids and bringing a demolition recommendation back to the board for consideration at a future meeting.
The board did not take a final vote on 221 Locust during the public comment period; board members noted that developer proposals listed on the agenda would be discussed further in a closed executive session later in the meeting.
