That old house is 255 North Third Street, which is being "rehabbed" as part of a joint effort among the Columbia Housing Steering Committee, the Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership, and IMPACT! Missions.
At a recent walk-through of the property, LHOP Program Development Director Jim Shultz said he sees the program as "a catalyst for change." The plan is to use donated and low-cost materials, and volunteer help, to fix up the house, starting with a work rally scheduled for this coming Saturday, September 6. The property, originally purchased at $32,000 will be fixed up to the tune of about $35,000 and will enter the market in the $70-80,000 range. Proceeds from the sale will be used to purchase another property in the same area, which will then be rehabbed and sold, and then another, and so on in the 200, 300, 400, and 500 blocks of Third Street, to provide affordable housing in the north end of town, as part of the Historic North End Project.
Renovations will include exterior painting, upgrades of heating, plumbing, and electrical systems, and kitchen and bathroom remodeling.
Matt Beakes of IMPACT! Missions will lead the work crew.
Volunteers can contact coordinator Justin Evans at ColaHSC@gmail.com.
A Historic North End community meeting will be held at the Colonial Metals Conference Center, 502 North Third Street on Wednesday, September 10 at 7 p.m.
Some interior shots of 255 North Third, showing the need for renovation:
Jim Shultz, LHOP program development coordinator
Matt Beakes, IMPACT! Missions executive director
The front of 255 North Third
