Volunteers gut old duplex on Leigh Avenue
By: Jennifer Potash
Gutting the interior of a house down to its frame may not seem like the most entertaining way to spend a weekend morning but it is great fun to the cadre of Habitat for Humanity volunteers working on a Leigh Avenue home.
"What else would we be doing?" said borough resident Kevin Cunningham. "Where else do you get to demolish a house and help people out in the community?"
More than 20 volunteers turned out for a demolition party Saturday to work on the renovation of a 2,800-square-foot duplex, which was deeded to Habitat for Humanity by Princeton Township for $1.
The work will be continue through the summer and is expected to be completed by the fall.
Michele Smith, who currently lives at Redding Circle, will have one half of the duplex for her family which includes three young children.
Ms. Smith must put in 500 hours of work, or "sweat equity" into the project to be eligible to purchase the completed house from Habitat with a no-interest mortgage, said Helmut Schwab, a member of Princeton chapter of Habitat for Humanity and a volunteer at the site.
She is allowed to have volunteers help her reach her required hours, Mr. Schwab said.
While the work is long and hard, the rewards are worth it, Ms. Smith said.
Her experience with a volunteer-based organization like Habitat has encouraged Ms. Smith to do more volunteer work, she said.
Volunteers were scheduled to work from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. But by noon, the large trash container was filled with debris from the interior.
Terry Smith, an architect with the Witherspoon Street firm of Richardson Smith, and Habitat Princeton member, designed the plans, free of charge, for the new duplex.
Each side of the duplex will have three bedrooms, said Peter Madison, a Princeton Borough resident and architect who was coordinating work at the site.
The houses are built with volunteer labor, plus materials and cash donations from individuals, churches, corporations, and foundations.
To qualify for a Habitat house, applicants need to have a steady job that enables them to meet the property taxes, insurance premiums and maintenance costs, Mr. Schwab said.
The group hopes to embark on more projects in the Princetons in the future, Mr. Schwab said.
Habitat for Humanity International, founded in 1976, is a nonprofit charitable organization that works in partnership with financially needy families to develop affordable housing through new construction and renovation.
The Princeton chapter began as a partnership among the Princeton University Class of 1977, the Trenton Habitat chapter, and the Princeton University student Habitat chapter along with Princeton Borough and Princeton Township.
The Class of 1977, as part of its class project commemorating Princeton University’s 250th anniversary, pledged up to $20,000 for local Princeton Habitat projects.
Habitat Princeton completed a project on Lytle Street in Princeton Borough two years ago.
Habitat Trenton, the local affiliate of the Habitat International and the parent organization of the Princeton chapter, has rebuilt at least 30 homes in East Trenton.
For more information about Habitat for Humanity’s Princeton project or to help Ms. Smith reach her 500 hours, call (609) 921-3695.