THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 18, 1994 TAG: 9406180207
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940618 LENGTH: VIRGINIA BEACH
The 79-year-old widow became the proud owner of a three-bedroom house designed and built by about 70 Virginia Beach high school students in a partnership with South Hampton Roads Habitat for Humanity.
{REST} ``I'm just as happy as I can be,'' Franklin said at the dedication, attended by about 50 people. ``Y'all put a big smile on my face.''
Franklin has not stopped smiling since she was chosen last fall as the recipient of the house on Indian River Road south of Ferrell Parkway.
The search for a potential homeowner who matched all of the requirements was not easy. Because Virginia Beach does not have a housing authority and cannot donate land, the recipient had to own property.
Franklin had lived on the site for almost 40 years, but her house was falling apart. The Housing and Neighborhood Preservation Department found her in its files, and she matched all of the requirements. Franklin had applied for low-income money to repair her roof.
``I had a terrible time in the old house,'' she said. ``They told me it could be condemned.''
Vo-Hab Link demolished the old house and provided a place for Franklin to live until the new house was completed.
Habitat for Humanity has built 16 homes in the area and will begin working on four more this summer and fall.
Franklin's house is the second Vo-Hab Link project built by students in Virginia Beach. Because land prices in Virginia Beach are high, most houses have been built in Norfolk, said Sylvia Hallock, executive director of Habitat for Humanity.
``Land prices are a challenge in Virginia Beach,'' Hallock said. ``The department of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation had to make a contribution.''
Church Point Associates and Harvey Lindsay Commercial Real Estate provided money for the project.
The Vo-Hab Link house has been a successful hands-on experience for students at the Virginia Beach Vocational-Technical Educational Center, principal William Moosha said. ``They take a great deal of pride in it,'' Moosha said. ``They were able to get to know the lady they're building for, so they have a stake in it.''
Moosha said about 70 to 80 students from the building trades classes, including plumbing, electricity, masonry and graphic design, were involved in the development of the house. Ground was broken last December.
``This is learning that pays off in reality,'' said Anne Meek, assistant superintendent of Virginia Beach schools. ``Having this kind of house is an American dream.''
Franklin expects to move into her new house by the end of the month. Then, she said, she can start turning the house into a home.
``I'm going to look around for a spot for a garden,'' she said. ``I love to work in the soil and see things grow.''
{KEYWORDS} HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
by CNB