They’ll be built in the second half of 2012, said local Habitat for Humanity chief Matt Wilson, at the corner of Catherine Street and Clifton Avenue — in the southwest corner of a neighborhood into which the city has invested millions of dollars of federal grants over several years.
“A lot of the existing designs that are used by (Habitat) affiliates pre-date Energy Star (efficiency ratings), and pre-date a lot of the available technology now,” Wilson said. In particular, the old window and wall designs make the houses too hot in the summer without air conditioning — which isn’t standard for Habitat houses.
But architects have long been able to solve the problem with good design. Wilson’s organization found a way to get custom design work inexpensively — custom to both the temperature problem and the design aesthetic within the neighborhood.
“It not only gives us the benefit of services we wouldn’t typically be able to afford, but it also gives (students) the educational opportunity,” Wilson said. “And, because we’re actually intending to have the students come out and build the houses, they find out what it takes to actually make these come to life. ... Often times it’s much harder to make something work in real life than it would be to put it onto paper.”
At Tuesday’s commission meeting, the city also approved:
• Selling land to the local Habitat affiliate as it plans to relocate its “Re-Store,” an emporium of gently used building materials taken from soon-to-be-demolished houses.
• A bid for engineering services in preparation for replacing curbs and sidewalks along North Fountain Avenue from Main Street to the bridge. In 2013 the city will bring walks to the downtown standard, with brick pavers, trees and benches.
• A bid for asphalt to pave portions of Harding Road.
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