Challenges stalled building efforts at the Wilson Creek Habitat for Humanity site in 2011, but 2012 is sure to be a memorable year with the completion of the first duplex and two families set to move in by the summer.
"We're hoping that somewhere in the second quarter of the year, which would be March through June, to have the families in there," said Ron Pepper, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Sunshine Coast.
The duplex is in need of siding, insulation, drywall, flooring and finishing before the selected families can call their new house a home.
Habitat for Humanity Sunshine Coast has a vision to build seven duplexes on the property they purchased for $550,000 in Wilson Creek, calling the effort the Sunshine Coast Village. When completed, the village will house 14 families in need of affordable housing on the Coast.
Work started on that vision at the end of 2010 when the property was officially rezoned for the effort.
Since then countless volunteer hours have resulted in the first duplex being erected and the second one being framed. An access road from the highway was also built at a cost of $154,000 last year.
The price tag may seem high but it was a steal compared to what the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure wanted done on the property. Pepper explained that shortly after building started, Habitat was told they must build an alternative access road through to Field Road from their site at an estimated cost of $700,000.
"Since then the cost has probably risen to $1 million for the road," Pepper noted.
Because of the route that road would have taken, not only would it have cost more than the property itself, it also necessitated working with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the Sechelt Indian Band, the District of Sechelt and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to get it done.
"It was a huge stumbling block for us," Pepper said.
After much talk and deliberation, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said Habitat could build six of their seven planned duplexes before having to build the alternate access from the property to Field Road. Instead they were granted a second access to the property from the highway, and Maycon stepped up to do it at cost for $154,000.
"The Credit Union was a big help too, securing the funds for the road," Pepper said, noting the Sunshine Coast Credit Union has been behind their efforts from day one.
With the road worry out of the way, more volunteers stepped up to help, and things seemed to be moving along well. But Pepper would find out that volunteer construction help, without a construction foreman, can be costly.
"This is too big a project for us to just depend on volunteers all the time. Sometimes when you do things without a professional contractor, they get done wrong and have to be redone, so you wonder what the cost savings really have been," Pepper said.
The group hired professional contractor Sean Whalen in August of 2011, and now things are moving along at an accelerated pace.
"Our plan for development of this property is now filed along with a timetable with the District of Sechelt, and so we have to meet that timetable pretty well. That means we have to finish a duplex every year beginning in the second quarter of this year," Pepper said.
He is pleased to have Whalen on board and said volunteers have even noted how much his expertise has helped move things along.
"Ken Lee, who's been a stalwart volunteer for us here at the site, came to me after we hired Sean and said it's so nice to have someone who knows what they're doing. He's not only got the skills, he also has the knowledge - he can read the plans and then challenge the architect to try to find different ways to do it to find some cost savings. So it's been just great having him," Pepper said.
While Habitat moves along with their Sunshine Coast Village plan, Pepper reminds everyone that they couldn't do any of it without the community's continued support of the ReStore and their donations of bottles and cans.
Pepper said the ReStore, located at 5605 Sunshine Coast Highway (beside McDonald's in Sechelt) makes about $100,000 a year, as does the recycling effort.
Although Gibsons Recycling is not accepting cans or bottles for Habitat, the Gibsons Bottle Depot at 1035 Venture Way just a couple doors down is taking the donations.
Volunteer help with the build is always welcome. Pepper said that Whalen can find something for every skill set to do. If you want to help, contact volunteer co-ordinator Dale Harvey at 604-885-4789.
Coming up on Jan. 10 is a women's insulation installation party starting at 10 a.m. If you'd like to help with this effort, just show up dressed to work. Gloves and masks will be supplied.
To find out more, visit www.habitatsc.ca and watch for new signage going up soon showing what's planned for the site.
