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Old house gets new lease on life photo by Andrew Marriman By Shari Downhill Regardless of Sunday�s early-morning snow, "Doc" Chaplin and his crew from Doc�s Housemoving, Inc. of Central Point, successfully maneuvered a 1900s-era house across town to its new digs on a corner lot in a west Medford neighborhood. "It went just fine," Chaplin said of the moving adventure that began on 540 S. Fir St. at 8:30 a.m. and ended around noon at the corner of Third and Grape streets. Using special house-moving dollies and "Gertrude," a hefty six-wheel drive military tow truck, Chaplin said his crew negotiated the distance with little trouble. The relocated house was donated to the Rogue Valley Community Development Corp. as a gift by Caroline Hacker of Port Angeles, Wash. Built by Hacker�s father and grandfather, both contractors, the house was slated to be torn down to make way for the expansion of a city street. Hacker also provided RVCDC the money to move the house to its current location. Chaplin and his workers will finish situating the house on its new foundation early this week. "It�s very exciting for us," said RVCDC President, Joan Middendorff. "Each day we achieve something else and this is another wonderful thing that�s happened for us." RVCDC works to expand the availability of low-income housing throughout the Rogue Valley. The agency most often purchases houses that are then renovated with the help of high school students, Middendorff said. The Job Council is providing a construction assistant to work with the high school instructor on the RVCDC renovation projects. "Our program is blossoming and it�s including more of the community," she said. "That�s what it�s going to take � the community pulling together." RVCDC has acquired, renovated and sold five homes in west Medford, the area targeted for affordable housing expansion. The sale of the agency�s sixth project house is pending. A seventh, located on Kenwood Avenue, will be available soon for about $84,000, Middendorf said. Applicant candidates for the homes must meet low-income guidelines and be creditworthy for a mortgage loan. Those eligible would have family incomes at or below $34,000 a year for a family of five, $31,000 for a family of four. "We also try to do everything we can to help them understand about the care and maintenance of their new home," Middendorff said. Community Development Block Grant funds from the city of Medford have helped further RVCDC�s affordable housing projects, said agency Executive Director, Ron Demele. In addition to helping low-income families own their own home, Demele said the west Medford neighborhoods where the homes are located are also "benefactors" of the program. After the homes are renovated, landscaping is also frequently added, improving the overall neighborhood and "setting a good example" for nearby neighbors. "It brightens the neighborhood," Demele said. "Hopefully, others will see the value of that and make similar improvements." RVCDC is also working to prevent the loss of existing units. A deed restriction placed on the house requires it be maintained as an affordable unit for 20 years. The rider prohibits new owners from immediately putting the house on the market for a profit. If sold, the house must be made available to another low-income family at a reasonable price. Reach reporter Shari Downhill at 776-4463, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.